Journal article
The effects of macromolecular crowding on the mechanical stability of protein molecules
Protein science, v 17(12), pp 2156-2166
Dec 2008
PMID: 18780817
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Macromolecular crowding, a common phenomenon in the cellular environments, can significantly affect the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of proteins. A single-molecule method based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the effects of macromolecular crowding on the forces required to unfold individual protein molecules. It was found that the mechanical stability of ubiquitin molecules was enhanced by macromolecular crowding from added dextran molecules. The average unfolding force increased from 210 pN in the absence of dextran to 234 pN in the presence of 300 g/L dextran at a pulling speed of 0.25 μm/sec. A theoretical model, accounting for the effects of macromolecular crowding on the native and transition states of the protein molecule by applying the scaled-particle theory, was used to quantitatively explain the crowding-induced increase in the unfolding force. The experimental results and interpretation presented could have wide implications for the many proteins that experience mechanical stresses and perform mechanical functions in the crowded environment of the cell.
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Details
- Title
- The effects of macromolecular crowding on the mechanical stability of protein molecules
- Creators
- Jian-Min Yuan - Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USAChia-Lin Chyan - Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, TaiwanHuan-Xiang Zhou - Department of Physics and Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USATse-Yu Chung - Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, TaiwanHaibo Peng - Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USAGuanghui Ping - Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USAGuoliang Yang - Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Publication Details
- Protein science, v 17(12), pp 2156-2166
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000261151100014
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-56749155582
- Other Identifier
- 991014878393704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology