Cited by 1,980Protein Structure and DynamicsRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsProtein purification and stability

How fast-folding proteins fold

Lindorff-Larsen, Kresten, Piana, Stefano, Dror, Ron O., Shaw, David E.·2011·Science

Abstract

An outstanding challenge in the field of molecular biology has been to understand the process by which proteins fold into their characteristic three-dimensional structures. Here, we report the results of atomic-level molecular dynamics simulations, over periods ranging between 100 μs and 1 ms, that reveal a set of common principles underlying the folding of 12 structurally diverse proteins. In simulations conducted with a single physics-based energy function, the proteins, representing all three major structural classes, spontaneously and repeatedly fold to their experimentally determined native structures. Early in the folding process, the protein backbone adopts a nativelike topology while certain secondary structure elements and a small number of nonlocal contacts form. In most cases, folding follows a single dominant route in which elements of the native structure appear in an order highly correlated with their propensity to form in the unfolded state.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1208351

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  • Raw advances in computational power are insufficient to produce more than anecdotal observations of protein folding or unfolding events.

    “While computational advances have ushered in a new era of molecular simulation software accelerated by graphics processing hardware [40, 41, 42] or even custom ASICs [2], raw advances in computational power are insufficient to produce more than anecdotal observations of protein folding or unfolding events [43].”

    From Markov state models of biomolecular conformational dynamics (2014) · cites this paper as [43]

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Authors
Lindorff-Larsen, K., Piana, S., Dror, R. O., & Shaw, D. E.
Affiliations
  • D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036, USA.
  • D. E. Shaw Research (US)
Corresponding author
  • Piana, Stefano
  • Shaw, David E.
Venue
Science
Published
2011-10-28
Volume
334
Issue
6055
Pages
517-520
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2067236515
Cited by
1,980
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 118 · 2025: 141 · 2024: 99 · 2023: 113 · 2022: 110 · 2021: 124 · 2020: 108 · 2019: 123 · 2018: 153 · 2017: 171 · 2016: 147 · 2015: 150 · 2014: 158 · 2013: 144 · 2012: 112
FWCI
54.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Structure and Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein purification and stability
Keywords
protein folding, folding kinetics, folding pathways, native structure, secondary structure formation, energy function, molecular dynamics simulation
MeSH terms
Kinetics, Protein Conformation, Proteins, Thermodynamics, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Folding, Molecular Dynamics Simulation

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