title: A mechanical model for the half-of-the-sites reactivity of oligomeric enzymes.
abstract: We developed a model which is able to provide a rationalization of the half-of-the-sites reactivity of oligomeric enzymes. According to this model, a dimeric enzyme is considered as a system of two coupled oscilators, which are able to transmit energy (information) to each other via a weak elastic coupling. In such a system, the energy may fluctuate between the two coupled elements so as to accumulate in one of the two at a time, i.e., at one time a certain energy state will be present in only one of the two elements, if this energy state (protomer conformation) is relevant for the chemical reaction, the conditions of half-of-the-sites reactivity may be fulfilled. The limits, and possible generalization, of this model are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E.T.H.) Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zandomeneghi