Protein folding: nucleation and compact intermediates.
Experimental and theoretical studies of protein folding have led now to understanding some basic principles of this process. In the simplest case of two-state folding it starts from the formation of the folding nucleus which immediately grows up embracing the whole protein molecule. However, typically folding occurs through a compact intermediate which has some native-like features of its 3D-structure. It is possible that also in these cases the folding nucleus is involved in the transition state between unfolded chain and compact intermediate.
Ptitsyn
O B
OB
Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142292 Russia. ptitsyn@sun.ipr.serpukhov. su
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
D011506:Proteins