title: Allosteric modulation of monomeric proteins*.
abstract: Multimeric proteins (e.g. hemoglobin) are considered to be the prototypes of allosteric enzymes, whereas monomeric proteins (e.g. myoglobin) usually are assumed to be nonallosteric. However, the modulation of the functional properties of monomeric proteins by heterotropic allosteric effectors casts doubts on this assumption. Here, the allosteric properties of sperm whale myoglobin, human serum albumin, and human α-thrombin, generally considered as molecular models of monomeric proteins, are summarized.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia and Laboratorio Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, Università "Roma Tre," Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, I-00146 Roma, Italy; Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive I.R.C.C.S. "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Via Portuense 292, I-00149 Roma, Italy. ascenzi@uniroma3.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ascenzi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bocedi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolli
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Notari
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Polticelli