Mapping the topology of polymer folding: knots, geometry and data. (2026-2028)
Abstract
Understanding the reason for and mechanism of knot formation in proteins remains an open problem, with significant implications in synthetic biology. This project aims to address this problem using an interdisciplinary approach grounded in computational topology. The project will focus on two innovative angles: determine how geometric constraints influence the type of knots forming and how they might form, and search for knot-promoting patterns in protein sequences. Expected outcomes include bringing new insights in this pressing biological problem, while greatly expanding the field of computational topology. It will bring substantial breakthroughs in core areas, with new results in knot theory, topological data analysis and geometry.
