Metastability of the Folded States of Globular Proteins
Abstract
The possibility that several metastable minima exist in which the folded forms of a polypeptide chain have similar structural characteristics but different energies is suggested. The validity of this hypothesis is illustrated with the aid of simulation methods on a model protein that folds into a β-barrel structure. Some implications of this hypothesis such as the existence of multiple pathways with intermediates for protein folding are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- May 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.87.9.3526
- Bibcode:
- 1990PNAS...87.3526H