Hydrophobic models of protein folding and the thermodynamics of chain-boundary interactions

Erzan A., Tuzel E.

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, vol.33, no.3, pp.573-588, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 33 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Doi Number: 10.1590/s0103-97332003000300018
  • Journal Name: BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.573-588
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

We review some results concerning the energetic and dynamical consequences of taking a generic hydrophobic model of a random polypeptide chain, where the effective hydrophobic interactions are represented by Hookcan springs. Then we present a set of calculations on a microscopic model of hydrophobic interactions, investigating the behaviour of a hydrophobic chain in the vicinity of a hydrophobic boundary. We conclude with some speculations as to the thermodynamics of pre-biotic functions proteins may have discharged very early on in the evolutionary past.