Mapping the topology of polymer folding: knots, geometry and data

Abstract

The last few decades have seen important advances in understanding the consequences of topological constraints in many biological systems. One striking example is the role of knots in proteins, which influence their folding pathways and structural stability. Despite this progress, the reasons and mechanisms behind knot formation in proteins remain open problems.

In this talk, I will explore a range of techniques from computational and applied topology, interpreted broadly, to investigate these questions. I will focus on how geometric constraints affect the types of knots that can form within proteins and the ways in which they might arise, as well as on approaches for identifying knot‑promoting patterns.