Colloquium: Geometrical approach to protein folding: a tube picture

Jayanth R. Banavar and Amos Maritan
Rev. Mod. Phys. 75, 23 – Published 6 January 2003
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Abstract

A framework is presented for understanding the common character of proteins. Proteins are linear chain molecules. However, the simple model of a polymer viewed as spheres tethered together does not account for many of the observed characteristics of protein structures. The authors show here that proteins may be regarded as tubes of nonzero thickness. This approach allows one to bridge the conventional compact polymer phase with a novel phase employed by Nature to house biomolecular structures. The continuum description of a tube (or a sheet) of arbitrary thickness entails using appropriately chosen many-body interactions rather than two-body interactions. The authors suggest that the structures of folded proteins are selected based on geometrical considerations and are poised at the edge of compaction, thus accounting for their versatility and flexibility. This approach also offers an explanation for why helices and sheets are the building blocks of protein structures.

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.75.23

    ©2003 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    Jayanth R. Banavar

    • Department of Physics, 104 Davey Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802

    Amos Maritan

    • International School for Advanced Studies (S.I.S.S.A.), Via Beirut 2-4, 34014 Trieste,
    • INFM and the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

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    Issue

    Vol. 75, Iss. 1 — January - March 2003

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