Epistructural Tension Promotes Protein Associations

作者:Fernandez Ariel*
来源:Physical Review Letters, 2012, 108(18): 188102.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.188102

摘要

Epistructural tension is the reversible work per unit area required to span the aqueous interface of a soluble protein structure. The parameter accounts for the free-energy cost of imperfect hydration, involving water molecules with a shortage of hydrogen-bonding partnerships relative to bulk levels. The binding hot spots along protein-protein interfaces are identified with residues that contribute significantly to the epistructural tension in the free subunits. Upon association, such residues either displace or become deprived of low-coordination vicinal water molecules.

  • 出版日期2012-5-4