Origins of globular structure in proteins.
Since natural proteins are the products of a long evolutionary process, the structural properties of present-day proteins should depend not only on physico-chemical constraints, but also on evolutionary constraints. Here we propose a model for protein evolution, in which membranes play a key role as a scaffold for supporting the gradual evolution from flexible polypeptides to well-folded proteins. We suggest that the folding process of present-day globular proteins is a relic of this putative evolutionary process. To test the hypothesis that membranes once acted as a cradle for the folding of globular proteins, extensive research on membrane proteins and the interactions of globular proteins with membranes will be required.
Doi
N
N
Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.
Yanagawa
H
H
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D017510:Protein Folding
D008565:Membrane Proteins