Metastability of the folded states of globular proteins.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.87.9.3526
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T11:38:21Z
• Authors: J D Honeycutt; D Thirumalai
• Keywords: Metastability; Globular protein; Folding (DSP implementation); Maxima and minima; Polypeptide chain; Protein evolution

The possibility that several metastable minima exist in which the folded forms of a polypeptide chain have similar structural characteristics but different energies is suggested. validity this hypothesis illustrated with aid simulation methods on model protein folds into beta-barrel structure. Some implications such as existence multiple pathways intermediates for folding are discussed.