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Enthalpy-entropy compensation in protein unfolding

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Enthalpy-entropy compensation was found to be a universal law in protein unfolding based on over 3000 experimental data. Water molecular reorganization accompanying the protein unfolding was suggested as the origin of the enthalpy-entropy compensation in protein unfolding. It is indicated that the enthalpy-entropy compensation constitutes the physical foundation that satisfies the biological need of the small free energy changes in protein unfolding, without the sacrifice of the bio-diversity of proteins. The enthalpy-entropy compensation theory proposed herein also provides valuable insights into the Privalov’s puzzle of enthalpy and entropy convergence in protein unfolding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China

    Lei Liu, Chao Yang & Qingxiang Guo

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  1. Lei Liu
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  2. Chao Yang
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  3. Qingxiang Guo
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Correspondence to Qingxiang Guo.

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Liu, L., Yang, C. & Guo, Q. Enthalpy-entropy compensation in protein unfolding. Chin.Sci.Bull. 45, 1476–1480 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898891

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898891

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