title: Conformation of peptide fragments of proteins in aqueous solution: implications for initiation of protein folding.
abstract: Applications of sensitive new technologies, in particular, two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, have allowed detection of folded structures in short peptide fragments of proteins in aqueous solution under conditions where native proteins fold. These structures are in rapid dynamic exchange with unfolded states. These observations provide evidence in support of models for protein folding which postulate localized regions of folded structure as initiation sites for the folding process. Since these initiation processes are expected to be rapid, such models are consistent with kinetic evidence that the rate-determining steps of protein folding occur late in the process and probably involve rearrangement of incorrectly folded intermediates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lerner
mesh_terms: D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water