the Rossmann Fold is a tertiary structure binding motif consisting of three or more parallel beta strands and two alpha helices; it is involved in nucleotide binding. in 1973, Michael Rossman, Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, published his description of the motif which he found in enzymes such as dehydrogenases and kinases that bind to molecules such as adenine triphosphate or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [1]. the beauty of this structural motif not only lies in its vital functionality, without it the TCA cycle would fail to succeed, but within its charismatic and aesthetic backbone structure. i thought to introduce this blog with the Rossmann Fold, because it is indeed a beautiful motif. it exists in every living organism, and it functions by helping to orchestrate the transformation of cellular energy. i decided to write this blog to explore the ability to look at the universe and the natural world through the eyes of an artist. to, if anything, solely appreciate the beauty and complexity of the molecules that keep our earth alive. the beauty of science not only lies within advances in medicine, space travel, or computer science... nor does it only lie within the scientific method, laboratory results, or mathematical equations... it lies within matter itself, within each and every organism and within the inorganic collisions that have synthesized our universe-- the beauty of scientific inquiry extends beyond that of our mental and creative capacity-- it exists and changes, with or without human interference.
1. Rao S, Rossmann M (1973). "Comparison of super-secondary structures in proteins". J Mol Biol 76 (2): 241–56.
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