Use of The Phase Diagram Method to Analyze The Protein Unfolding-refolding Reactions: Fishing Out The “Invisible” Intermediates
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2004
Keywords
Protein Folding, Partially Folded Intermediate, Molten Globule, Pre-molten Globule
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1021/pr034094y
Abstract
Partially folded conformations are important players in protein self-organization, function, and misfolding, thus attracting the intensive and constant attention of researchers. Different conformational states of proteins can be easily discriminated from one another using the multiparametric approach, which usually involves the application of several physicochemical methods sensitive to the various structural levels of a protein molecule. This approach gives the most complete information about the structural changes in protein during its de- and renaturation. However, in many cases researches are interested in a brief and simple test for the appearance of an intermediate state. The binding of the hydrophobic fluorescent probe ANS represents one of the well-established techniques, allowing the retrieval of such information. We are introducing another approach, based on the analysis of the spectroscopic data in a form of spectral diagrams. The essence of this method is to build the Iλ1 versus Iλ2 dependence, where Iλ1 and Iλ2 are the spectral intensity values (e.g., fluorescence, CD, FTIR, absorbance, etc.) measured on wavelengths λ1 and λ2. We are showing that this approach gives the detailed description of the protein unfolding pathway, detects the numerous partially folded species, and even fishes out the hidden intermediates. An application of this method for the analysis of the equilibrium and kinetic unfolding/refolding of several proteins under the variety of conditions is described. Advantages and disadvantages of the technique suggested are also discussed.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of Proteome Research, v. 3, issue 3, p. 485-494
Scholar Commons Citation
Kuznetsova, Irina M.; Turoverov, Konstantin K.; and Uversky, Vladimir N., "Use of The Phase Diagram Method to Analyze The Protein Unfolding-refolding Reactions: Fishing Out The “Invisible” Intermediates" (2004). Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications. 727.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/mme_facpub/727
