This small grant for exploratory research project is using tail fiber parts from the bacterial virus T4 to examine the mechanical and other properties of these proteinaceous building materials, many of which seem to exhibit unusual strength and stiffness. Dimer fragments are being produced in quantities appropriate for structural analysis. The structural information from these materials will be used to facilitate molecular modelling and theoretical estimations of properties such as stiffness, elasticity and tensile strength, as well as in designing novel structural parts. Longer polymers will be made by using genetic techniques to alter the ends of the basic building blocks. Average length of the polymers can be determined by adding "stop" subunits in different limiting concentrations. %%% This research has the potential to produce novel materials from biological products.
