title: Stability and folding studies of the N-domain of troponin C. Evidence for the formation of an intermediate.
abstract: We report here on the stability and folding of the 91 residue alpha-helical F29W N-terminal domain of chicken skeletal muscle troponin C (TnC(1-91)F29W), the thin filament calcium-binding component. Unfolding was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism, and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy using urea, pH, and temperature as denaturants, in the absence and in the presence of calcium. The unfolding of TnC(1-91)F29W was reversible and did not follow a two-state transition, suggesting that an intermediate may be present during this reaction. Our results support the hypothesis that intermediates are likely to occur during the folding of small proteins and domains. The physiological significance of the presence of an intermediate in the folding pathway of troponin C is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular Estrutural, Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron, CP 6192, Campinas SP, 13084-971, Brazil. cramos@lnls.br
authors.forename: Carlos H I
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Milton V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Silvia L F
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Paula F L
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Borin
authors.forename: Wiliam C B
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Régis
authors.forename: Marcelo M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013696:Temperature; D019209:Troponin C / Q000737:chemistry*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019209:Troponin C; D014508:Urea; D002118:Calcium