Mechanical resistance of proteins explained using simple molecular models.

ABSTRACT: Recent experiments have demonstrated that proteins unfold when two atoms are mechanically pulled apart, and that this process is different to when heated or when a chemical denaturant is added to the solution. Experiments have also shown that the response of proteins to external forces is very diverse, some of them being "hard," and others "soft." Mechanical resistance originates from the presence of barriers on the energy landscape; together, experiment and simulation have demonstrated that unfolding occurs through alternative pathways when different pairs of atoms undergo mechanical extension. Here we use simulation to probe the mechanical resistance of six structurally diverse proteins when pulled in different directions. For this, we use two very different models: a detailed, transfera

SUBMITTER: West DK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1367027 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature