title: Eigenvalues of the homogeneous finite linear one step master equation: applications to downhill folding.
abstract: Motivated by the observed time scales in protein systems said to fold "downhill," we have studied the finite, linear master equation, with uniform rates forward and backward as a model of the downhill process. By solving for the system eigenvalues, we prove the claim that in situations where there is no free energy barrier a transition between single- and multi-exponential kinetics occurs at sufficient bias (towards the native state). Consequences for protein folding, especially the downhill folding scenario, are briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Vijay S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pande
mesh_terms: D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins