Extremely slow intramolecular diffusion in unfolded protein L.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 107(31): 13713-7, 2010 Aug 03.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20643973
ABSTRACT
A crucial parameter in many theories of protein folding is the rate of diffusion over the energy landscape. Using a microfluidic mixer we have observed the rate of intramolecular diffusion within the unfolded B1 domain of protein L before it folds. The diffusion-limited rate of intramolecular contact is about 20 times slower than the rate in 6 M GdnHCl, and because in these conditions the protein is also more compact, the intramolecular diffusion coefficient decreases 100-500 times. The dramatic slowdown in diffusion occurs within the 250 micros mixing time of the mixer, and there appears to be no further evolution of this rate before reaching the transition state of folding. We show that observed folding rates are well predicted by a Kramers model with a denaturant-dependent diffusion coefficient and speculate that this diffusion coefficient is a significant contribution to the observed rate of folding.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Proteínas
/
Difusión
/
Respuesta de Proteína Desplegada
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article