Dynamic New World: Refining Our View of Protein Structure, Function and Evolution.

ABSTRACT: Proteins are crucial to the functioning of all lifeforms. Traditional understanding posits that a single protein occupies a single structure ("fold"), which performs a single function. This view is radically challenged with the recognition that high structural dynamism-the capacity to be extra "floppy"-is more prevalent in functional proteins than previously assumed. As reviewed here, this dynamic take on proteins affects our understanding of protein "structure", function, and evolution, and even gives us a glimpse into protein origination. Specifically, this review will discuss historical developments concerning protein structure, and important new relationships between dynamism and aspects of protein sequence, structure, binding modes, binding promiscuity, evolvability, and origination.

SUBMITTER: Mannige RV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5302727 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature