Jamming Proteins with Slipknots and Their Free Energy Landscape

Joanna I. Sułkowska, Piotr Sułkowski, and José N. Onuchic
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 268103 – Published 29 December 2009

Abstract

Theoretical studies of stretching proteins with slipknots reveal a surprising growth of their unfolding times when the stretching force crosses an intermediate threshold. This behavior arises as a consequence of the existence of alternative unfolding routes that are dominant at different force ranges. The existence of an intermediate, metastable configuration where the slipknot is jammed is responsible for longer unfolding times at higher forces. Simulations are performed with a coarse-grained model with further quantification using a refined description of the geometry of the slipknots. The simulation data are used to determine the free energy landscape of the protein, which supports recent analytical predictions.

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  • Received 7 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.268103

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Joanna I. Sułkowska1, Piotr Sułkowski2,3,4, and José N. Onuchic1

  • 1Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California San Diego, Gilman Drive 9500, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
  • 2Physikalisches Institute and Bethe Center for Theoretical Physics, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 12, 53115 Bonn, Germany
  • 3California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 92215, USA
  • 4Institute for Nuclear Studies, Hoża 69, 00-681 Warsaw, Poland

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Vol. 103, Iss. 26 — 31 December 2009

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