Coherent topological phenomena in protein folding.
A theory is presented for coherent topological phenomena in protein dynamics with implications for protein folding and stability. We discuss the relationship to the writhing number used in knot diagrams of DNA. The winding state defines a long-range order along the backbone of a protein with long-range excitations, 'wring' modes, that play an important role in protein denaturation and stability. Energy can be pumped into these excitations, either thermally or by an external force.
Bohr
H
H
Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
Brunak
S
S
Bohr
J
J
D008433:Mathematics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D017510:Protein Folding; D013816:Thermodynamics