Plasticity Paradigms: Navigating Protein Conformational Dynamics and Phenotypic Variability in Biological Systems

Abstract

The complex dynamics and responses of biological systems to environmental cues are shaped by their inherent plasticity and adaptability. This biological plasticity, operational at multiple levels - ranging from the molecular to the systemic, characterizes the dynamic ability to modify behavior, morphology, and physiology - in response to external environmental cues and internal stimuli. More than just a survival mechanism, this inherent plasticity stands as a dynamic force guiding the trajectories of evolution, development, and disease processes. At its core, the plasticity inherent in biological systems is not confined to a singular realm but permeates through the diverse landscapes of molecular intricacies and cellular behaviors. From the flexible three-dimensional structures of proteins to the versatile adaptability of cellular phenotypes in response to changing environmental conditions, the spectrum of biological plasticity unfolds across various dimensions. The work in this thesis centrally addresses the exploration of inherent plasticity in biological systems, emphasizing conformational plasticity at the protein structural level and phenotypic plasticity at the cellular level. Conformational plasticity delineates the capacity of a protein to adopt distinct conformations, highlighting its versatility. Simultaneously, phenotypic plasticity underscores the ability of cells and organisms to transition between phenotypic states in response to environmental cues, despite identical genetic contents.