The loop hypothesis: contribution of early formed specific non-local interactions to the determination of protein folding pathways.

ABSTRACT: The extremely fast and efficient folding transition (in seconds) of globular proteins led to the search for some unifying principles embedded in the physics of the folding polypeptides. Most of the proposed mechanisms highlight the role of local interactions that stabilize secondary structure elements or a folding nucleus as the starting point of the folding pathways, i.e., a "bottom-up" mechanism. Non-local interactions were assumed either to stabilize the nucleus or lead to the later steps of coalescence of the secondary structure elements. An alternative mechanism was proposed, an "up-down" mechanism in which it was assumed that folding starts with the formation of very few non-local interactions which form closed long loops at the initiation of folding. The possible biological advantag

SUBMITTER: Orevi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5425721 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature