A flexible approach for understanding protein stability

FEBS Lett. 2004 Oct 22;576(3):468-76. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.09.057.

Abstract

A distance constraint model (DCM) is presented that identifies flexible regions within protein structure consistent with specified thermodynamic condition. The DCM is based on a rigorous free energy decomposition scheme representing structure as fluctuating constraint topologies. Entropy non-additivity is problematic for naive decompositions, limiting the success of heat capacity predictions. The DCM resolves non-additivity by summing over independent entropic components determined by an efficient network-rigidity algorithm. A minimal 3-parameter DCM is demonstrated to accurately reproduce experimental heat capacity curves. Free energy landscapes and quantitative stability-flexibility relationships are obtained in terms of global flexibility. Several connections to experiment are made.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Drug Stability
  • Entropy
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Proteins