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Hypothesis: The unfolding power of protein dielectricity

A hypothesis is proposed on a potential role of protein dielectricity as an unfolding factor in protein-protein interactions. It is suggested that large protein complexes and aggregation seeds can unfold target proteins by virtue of their effect on the dielectric properties of water at the protein-s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Uversky, Vladimir N
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Taylor & Francis 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424796/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28516018
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/idp.25725
Descripción
Sumario:A hypothesis is proposed on a potential role of protein dielectricity as an unfolding factor in protein-protein interactions. It is suggested that large protein complexes and aggregation seeds can unfold target proteins by virtue of their effect on the dielectric properties of water at the protein-solvent interface. Here, similar to the effect of membrane surfaces, protein surface can cause decrease in the local dielectric constant of solvent and thereby induce structural changes in a target protein approaching this surface. Some potential implementations of this hypothetical mechanism are also discussed.