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A relational-constructionist account of protein macrostructure and function

2020-06-17Journal article Restricted access
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dc.contributor.authorSantos, Gil
dc.contributor.authorVallejos, Gabriel
dc.contributor.authorVecchi, Davide
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-19T21:41:07Z
dc.date.available2020-06-19T21:41:07Z
dc.date.issued2020-06-17
dc.description.abstractOne of the foundational problems of biochemistry concerns the conceptualisation of the relationship between the composition, structure and function of macromolecules like proteins. Part of the recent philosophical literature displays a reductionist bias, that is, the endorsement of a form of microstructuralism mirroring an out-dated biochemical conceptualisation. We shall argue that such microstructuralist approaches are ultimately committed to a potentialist form of micro-predeterminism whereby the macrostructure and function of proteins is accounted for solely in terms of the intrinsic properties and potentialities of the components of the primary structure as if they were self-contained or essentially immutable entities. We shall instead suggest that a conceptualisation of the relationship between proteins’ composition, structure and function consistent with contemporary biochemical practice should account also for the causal role of the cellular, organismal and environmental relations in protein development. The analysis of the folding process we propose suggests that microstructure-laden reductionist approaches are ontologically indefensible. Rather than a potentialist form of micro-predeterminism, our analysis ultimately supports a relational-construction-based view of protein development and potentialities formation, which requires an indispensable analysis of the dynamical interplay between the micro-level of the parts and the macro-level of the relational structures of their systems.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10698-020-09373-5pt_PT
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10451/43882
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherSpringer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]pt_PT
dc.relationFCT - Stimulus of Scientific Employment, Individual Support: CEECIND/03316/2017pt_PT
dc.relationFCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia: DL57/2016/CP1479/ CT0072pt_PT
dc.relationFCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia: Grant N. UIDB/00678/2020pt_PT
dc.relationR&D Project Grant PTDC/FER-HFC/30665/2017: Emergence in the Natural Sciences: Towards a New Paradigmpt_PT
dc.titleA relational-constructionist account of protein macrostructure and functionpt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.titleFoundations of Chemistrypt_PT
rcaap.rightsrestrictedAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT

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