Protein unfolding and refolding as transitions through virtual states Articles uri icon

published in

  • EPL  Journal

publication date

  • October 2014

issue

  • 2(28002)

volume

  • 108

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0295-5075

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1286-4854

abstract

  • Single-molecule atomic force spectroscopy probes elastic properties of titin, ubiquitin and other relevant proteins. We explain bioprotein folding dynamics under both length- and force-clamp by modeling polyprotein modules as particles in a bistable potential, weakly connected by harmonic spring linkers. Multistability of equilibrium extensions provides the characteristic sawtooth force-extension curve. We show that abrupt or stepwise unfolding and refolding under force-clamp conditions involve transitions through virtual states (which are quasi-stationary domain configurations) modified by thermal noise. These predictions agree with experimental observations.

keywords

  • force-clamp spectroscopy; single-protein; molecules; dynamics; microscopy; collapse; dna