Issue 1, 2012

Meta-structure correlation in protein space unveils different selection rules for folded and intrinsically disordered proteins

Abstract

The number of existing protein sequences spans a very small fraction of sequence space. Natural proteins have overcome a strong negative selective pressure to avoid the formation of insoluble aggregates. Stably folded globular proteins and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) use alternative solutions to the aggregation problem. While in globular proteins folding minimizes the access to aggregation prone regions, IDPs on average display large exposed contact areas. Here, we introduce the concept of average meta-structure correlation maps to analyze sequence space. Using this novel conceptual view we show that representative ensembles of folded and ID proteins show distinct characteristics and respond differently to sequence randomization. By studying the way evolutionary constraints act on IDPs to disable a negative function (aggregation) we might gain insight into the mechanisms by which function-enabling information is encoded in IDPs.

Graphical abstract: Meta-structure correlation in protein space unveils different selection rules for folded and intrinsically disordered proteins

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Sep 2011
Accepted
09 Nov 2011
First published
23 Nov 2011

Mol. BioSyst., 2012,8, 411-416

Meta-structure correlation in protein space unveils different selection rules for folded and intrinsically disordered proteins

Y. Naranjo, M. Pons and R. Konrat, Mol. BioSyst., 2012, 8, 411 DOI: 10.1039/C1MB05367A

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