Mechanical unfolding and refolding of proteins: an off-lattice model study.
Using an off-lattice model, we investigate the response of a protein molecule to external stretching and release. In particular we study the passive force in a protein as a function of the extension of the protein. These force-extension curves exhibit hysteresis loops, whose areas increase with the pulling rate and decrease with thermal noise. Most of these results seem to be appropriately described by a cusp catastrophe.
Li
F Y
FY
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106, Republic of China.
Yuan
J M
JM
Mou
C Y
CY
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D011506:Proteins