Protein Folding Flashcards
Landscape Theory
- protein folding is mediated by a complex energy landscape directing the unfolded state conformations into the encoded native genome
- energy surface representing conformational energy states available to a polypeptide
- horizontal points represent the conformation/torsion angles and the vertical points represent the free energy associated with this
Protein Folding
A protein folds via a series of conformational adjustments reducing free energy and entropy to reach the native state
Anfinsen Experiment
- showed the thermodynamic minimum of the free energy is the native state
- B-mercaptoethanol allowed reformation of proper disulfide bonds that are most stable and not further reduced
- native ribonuclease was denatured and reduced with urea and B-mercaptoethanol
- removing the denaturant without adding reductant left a scrambled protein with non native disulfide bonds
- trace reductant addition caused a conversion into the native state via shuffling of bonds
- non native bonds are less stable so are broken and reformed until the native bonds form
Protein Stability
structured proteins fold into a native state characterised by a well-defined 3D structure that is more stable / lower free energy
- difference in conformational stability of native state given by free energy difference between native/unfolded states
Chemical Stability
ability to maintain the chemical structure of the native state
Conformational Stability
ability to adopt a well-defined conformation rather than a random coil state
Determinants of Folding
- unfavourable entropy change of folding a flexible polypeptide
- favorable enthalpy conditions from H bonds/salt bridges
- favorable entropy change from burying hydrophobic groups in the molecule
Parameters of Folding
- ph/T/P, ionic strength, crowding
- parameters of the system can affect the free energy and folding
- demonstrated in extremophilic organism’s enzymes
Compactness
- proteins are compact with a high density
- native fold is most stable because of the compactness of helices/sheets
- folding is largely directed by internal residues
evidence: - modification of Lys residues in Rnase A by poly A doesn’t affect folding
Heirarchy
- folding and structures are heirarchal
Adaptability
- structure is adaptive
- packing of apolar side chains in core is unique
- mutagenesis of T4 lysozyme reveals great adaptability in that mutations are accommodated without affecting folding
Sequence Versatility
- conservation of sequence can lead to similar folding
- 20% aa sequence identified between 2 proteins means they have the same overall fold
- once you change 50% of the sequence, you change the fold
Techniques for Measuring Stability
Anything measuring Protein Stability distinguishes between unfolded and folded states
- absorbance
- fluorescence
- CD
- NMR
- catalytic activity
- urea gradient gels
Circular Dichroism
- essentially a spectroscopy giving the molar absorptivity as a function of wavelength
- measures molar absorption difference of left and right handed circularly polarized light
- each secondary structure element produces a characteristic spectra
- proteins are chiral so interaction with left/right polarised light differently
Circularly Polarized Light
Direction of electric field vector rotates about its propagation direction
Forms a helix along the vector of propogation (k)
Ellipticity
CD reported as gamma, which is an angle describing an ellipse
- the angle defined by the large/small vectors of an ellipse, ie. the two axes of light
Circular Dichroism Formula
Reports difference in absorption of left handed vs right handed circularly polarized light
E = El - Er