How random are intrinsically disordered proteins? A small angle scattering perspective.

ABSTRACT: While the crucial role of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) in the cell cycle is now recognized, deciphering their molecular mode of action at the structural level still remains highly challenging and requires a combination of many biophysical approaches. Among them, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has been extremely successful in the last decade and has become an indispensable technique for addressing many of the fundamental questions regarding the activities of IDPs. After introducing some experimental issues specific to IDPs and in relation to the latest technical developments, this article presents the interest of the theory of polymer physics to evaluate the flexibility of fully disordered proteins. The different strategies to obtain 3-dimensional models of IDPs, free in so

SUBMITTER: Receveur-Brechot V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3394175 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature