
We apply the Wako-Saito-Muñoz-Eaton model to the study of myotrophin, a small ankyrin repeat protein, whose folding equilibrium and kinetics have been recently characterized experimentally. The model, which is a native-centric with binary variables, provides a finer microscopic detail than the Ising model that has been recently applied to some different repeat proteins, while being still amenable for an exact solution. In partial agreement with the experiments, our results reveal a weakly three-state equilibrium and a two-state-like kinetics of the wild-type protein despite the presence of a nontrivial free-energy profile. These features appear to be related to a careful “design” of the free-energy landscape, so that mutations can alter this picture, stabilizing some intermediates and changing the position of the rate-limiting step. Also, the experimental findings of two alternative pathways, an N-terminal and a C-terminal one, are qualitatively confirmed, even if the variations in the rates upon the experimental mutations cannot be quantitatively reproduced. Interestingly, the folding and unfolding pathways appear to be different, even if closely related: a property that is not generally considered in the phenomenological interpretation of the experimental data.
Models, Molecular, Protein Folding, Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech), Statistical physics; Protein folding; Myotrophin; Ankyrin repeat, FOS: Physical sciences, Biomolecules (q-bio.BM), Ankyrin Repeat, Kinetics, Quantitative Biology - Biomolecules, FOS: Biological sciences, Mutation, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Thermodynamics, Monte Carlo Method, Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics, Protein Unfolding
Models, Molecular, Protein Folding, Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech), Statistical physics; Protein folding; Myotrophin; Ankyrin repeat, FOS: Physical sciences, Biomolecules (q-bio.BM), Ankyrin Repeat, Kinetics, Quantitative Biology - Biomolecules, FOS: Biological sciences, Mutation, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Thermodynamics, Monte Carlo Method, Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics, Protein Unfolding
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 16 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
