Ensemble versus single-molecule protein unfolding.

ABSTRACT: Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are the classic single-molecule "experiments," providing atomic-resolution structural and dynamic information. However, the single-molecule nature of the technique has also been its shortcoming, with frequent criticisms of sampling inadequacies and questions regarding the ensemble behavior of large numbers of molecules. Given the increase in computer power, we now address this issue by performing a large number of simulations and comparing individual and ensemble properties. One hundred independent MD simulations of the protein chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 were carried out for 20 ns each at 498 K in water to more fully describe the potentially diverse routes of protein unfolding and investigate how representative a single trajectory can be. Rapid unfolding w

SUBMITTER: Day R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1224615 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature