title: Protein dynamical transition does not require protein structure.
abstract: Terahertz time domain spectroscopy shows that the protein dynamical transition, the rapid increase in protein dynamics occurring at approximately 200 K, needs neither tertiary nor secondary structure. Further, short chain alanine studies find a dynamical transition down to penta-alanine, with no transition observed for di-alanine or tri-alanine. These results reveal the temperature dependence arises strictly from the side-chain interaction with the solvent. The lack of a transition for shorter chain peptides may indicate a qualitative change in this interaction occurs at a specific peptide chain length.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Yunfen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Pei I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Knab
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Markelz
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000737:chemistry; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D004527:Egg Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D011107:Polylysine; C019529:polyalanine; D009113:Muramidase