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Search results for: folded proteins
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Mechanism of Osmolyte Stabilization–Destabilization of Proteins: Experimental Evidence
PublicationIn this work, we investigated the influence of stabilizing (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) and destabilizing (urea) osmolytes on the hydration spheres of biomacromolecules in folded forms (trpzip-1 peptide and hen egg white lysozyme─hewl) and unfolded protein models (glycine─GLY and N-methylglycine─NMG) by means of infrared spectroscopy. GLY and NMG were clearly limited as minimal models for unfolded proteins and should be treated with...
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Recent Developments in Data-Assisted Modeling of Flexible Proteins
PublicationMany proteins can fold into well-defined conformations. However, intrinsically-disordered proteins (IDPs) do not possess a defined structure. Moreover, folded multi-domain proteins often digress into alternative conformations. Collectively, the conformational dynamics enables these proteins to fulfill specific functions. Thus, most experimental observables are averaged over the conformations that constitute an ensemble. In this...
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Crystal structures of the DsbG disulfide isomerase reveal an unstable disulfide
PublicationDsb proteins control the formation and rearrangement of disulfide bonds during the folding of secreted and membrane proteins in bacteria. DsbG, a member of this family, has disulfide bond isomerase and chaperone activity. Here, we present two crystal structures of DsbG at 1.7- and 2.0-Angstrom resolution that are meant to represent the reduced and oxidized forms, respectively. The oxidized structure, however, reveals a mixture...
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General Mechanism of Osmolytes’ Influence on Protein Stability Irrespective of the Type of Osmolyte Cosolvent
PublicationThe stability of proteins in an aqueous solution can be modified by the presence of osmolytes. The hydration sphere of stabilizing osmolytes is strikingly similar to the enhanced hydration sphere of a protein. This similarity leads to an increase in the protein stability. Moreover, the hydration sphere of destabilizing osmolytes is significantly different. These solutes generate in their surroundings so-called “structurally different...
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Fatty acyl benzamido antibacterials based on inhibition of DnaK-catalyzed protein folding
PublicationWe have reported that the hsp70 chaperone DnaK from Escherichia coli might assist protein folding by catalyzing the cis/trans isomerization of secondary amide peptide bonds in unfolded or partially folded proteins. In this study a series of fatty acylated benzamido inhibitors of the cis/trans isomerase activity of DnaK was developed and tested for antibacterial effects in E. coli MC4100 cells. Nα-[Tetradecanoyl-(4-aminomethylbenzoyl)]-l-asparagine...
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Effect of urea and glycine betaine on the hydration sphere of model molecules for the surface features of proteins
PublicationWater properties may significantly affect protein stability. Osmolytes are compounds that intrinsically affect water in many different ways and thus can influence proteins with this type of indirect mechanism. In this study, we characterize water properties in ternary solutions: model–water–osmolyte, with two model molecules: N-methylacetamide (NMA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and two osmolytes: glycine betaine (TMG)and urea....