title: Fast events in protein folding: relaxation dynamics and structure of the I form of apomyoglobin.
abstract: The fast relaxation dynamics of the acid destabilized I form of apomyoglobin (pH* 3, 0.15 M NaCl; apoMb-I) following a laser-induced temperature-jump have been probed using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. Only a fast, single exponential phase is observed (bleach centered at v = 1633 cm-1 and transient absorbance at 1666 cm-1) with relaxation times of 38 ns at 30 degrees C and 36 ns at 57 degrees C; no additional slow (microsecond) phase is observed as previously found in the native form of apomyoglobin. Folding times of approximately 66 ns are derived from the observed rates based on a simple two-state model. The equilibrium melting of the 1633 cm-1 component shows noncooperative linear behavior over the temperature range studied (10-60 degrees C). The low amide I' frequency, the fast relaxation dynamics, and the noncooperative melting behavior are characteristic of isolated solvated helix. The analysis of the amide-I' band reveals another major component at 1650 cm-1 assigned to native-like structure stabilized by tertiary contacts involving the AGH core, which does not show dynamic or static melting under our conditions. ApoMb-I has generally been taken to be a "molten globule" species. The present results indicate a heterogeneous structure consisting of separate regions of native-like unit(s), solvated helices, and disordered coil, excluding a homogeneous molten globule as a model for apoMb-I. From the current studies and other results, a detailed model of the folding of apomyoglobin is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York, New York 10031, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilmanshin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Woodruff
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dyer
mesh_terms: D001059:Apoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D017510:Protein Folding; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001059:Apoproteins; D009211:Myoglobin; C010857:apomyoglobin