Stabilizing effect of knots on proteins

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 16;105(50):19714-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0805468105. Epub 2008 Dec 8.

Abstract

Molecular dynamics studies within a coarse-grained, structure-based model were used on two similar proteins belonging to the transcarbamylase family to probe the effects of the knot in the native structure of a protein. The first protein, N-acetylornithine transcarbamylase, contains no knot, whereas human ormithine transcarbamylase contains a trefoil knot located deep within the sequence. In addition, we also analyzed a modified transferase with the knot removed by the appropriate change of a knot-making crossing of the protein chain. The studies of thermally and mechanically induced unfolding processes suggest a larger intrinsic stability of the protein with the knot.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase / chemistry*
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase