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Locating the Barrier for Folding of Single Molecules under an External Force

Olga K. Dudko, Thomas G. W. Graham, and Robert B. Best
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 208301 – Published 7 November 2011
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Abstract

Single-molecule pulling experiments on the folding of biomolecules are usually interpreted with one-dimensional models in which the dynamics occurs on the “pulling coordinate.” Paradoxically, the free-energy profile along this coordinate may lack a refolding barrier, yet a barrier is known to exist for folding; thus, it has been argued that pulling experiments do not probe folding. Here, we show that transitions monitored in pulling experiments probe the true folding barrier but that the barrier may be hidden in the projection onto the pulling coordinate. However, one-dimensional theory using the pulling coordinate still yields physically meaningful energy landscape parameters.

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  • Received 7 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.208301

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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The Barrier to Folding

Published 7 November 2011

A discrepancy between theory and experiment regarding how molecules fold in response to applied forces is resolved.

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Authors & Affiliations

Olga K. Dudko1,*, Thomas G. W. Graham2, and Robert B. Best2,†

  • 1Department of Physics and Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
  • 2Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom

  • *dudko@physics.ucsd.edu
  • rbb24@cam.ac.uk

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 20 — 11 November 2011

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