On the role of electrostatics in protein-protein interactions

Phys Biol. 2011 Jun;8(3):035001. doi: 10.1088/1478-3975/8/3/035001. Epub 2011 May 13.

Abstract

The role of electrostatics in protein-protein interactions and binding is reviewed in this paper. A brief outline of the computational modeling, in the framework of continuum electrostatics, is presented and the basic electrostatic effects occurring upon the formation of the complex are discussed. The effect of the salt concentration and pH of the water phase on protein-protein binding free energy is demonstrated which indicates that the increase of the salt concentration tends to weaken the binding, an observation that is attributed to the optimization of the charge-charge interactions across the interface. It is pointed out that the pH-optimum (pH of optimal binding affinity) varies among the protein-protein complexes, and perhaps is a result of their adaptation to particular subcellular compartments. The similarities and differences between hetero- and homo-complexes are outlined and discussed with respect to the binding mode and charge complementarity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Computational Biology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Chemical
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Proteins