title: Cystine plug and other novel mechanisms of large mechanical stability in dimeric proteins.
abstract: We identify three dimeric proteins whose mechanostability is anisotropic and should exceed 1 nN along some directions. They come with distinct mechanical clamps: either shear-based, or involving a cystine slipknot, or due to dragging of a cystine plug through a cystine ring. The latter two mechanisms are topological in nature; the cystine plug mechanism has not yet been discussed but it turns out to provide the largest resistance to stretching. Its possible applications in elastomers are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mateusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sikora
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cieplak
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000737:chemistry; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003553:Cystine / Q000737:chemistry*; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C490886:ARTN protein, human; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D003553:Cystine