Self-assembly and evolution of homomeric protein complexes.
We introduce a simple "patchy particle" model to study the thermodynamics and dynamics of self-assembly of homomeric protein complexes. Our calculations allow us to rationalize recent results for dihedral complexes. Namely, why evolution of such complexes naturally takes the system into a region of interaction space where (i) the evolutionarily newer interactions are weaker, (ii) subcomplexes involving the stronger interactions are observed to be thermodynamically stable on destabilization of the protein-protein interactions, and (iii) the self-assembly dynamics are hierarchical with these same subcomplexes acting as kinetic intermediates.
Villar
Gabriel
G
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom.
Wilber
Alex W
AW
Williamson
Alex J
AJ
Thiara
Parvinder
P
Doye
Jonathan P K
JP
Louis
Ard A
AA
Jochum
Mara N
MN
Lewis
Anna C F
AC
Levy
Emmanuel D
ED
D000465:Algorithms; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics
D011506:Proteins