Understanding biology by stretching proteins: recent progress.
Single molecule manipulation techniques combined with molecular dynamics simulations and protein engineering have enabled, during the last decade, the mechanical properties of proteins to be studied directly, thereby giving birth to the field of protein nanomechanics. Recent data obtained from such techniques have helped gain insight into the structural bases of protein resistance against forced unfolding, as well as revealing structural motifs involved in mechanical stability. Also, important technical developments have provided new perspectives into protein folding. Eventually, new and exciting data have shown that mechanical properties are key factors in cell signaling and pathologies, and have been used to rationally tune these properties in a variety of proteins.
Galera-Prat
Albert
A
Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
Gómez-Sicilia
Angel
A
Oberhauser
Andres F
AF
Cieplak
Marek
M
Carrión-Vázquez
Mariano
M
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D017510:Protein Folding; D055550:Protein Stability; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D011506:Proteins