Issue 30, 2012

Rate constants and mechanisms of intrinsically disordered proteins binding to structured targets

Abstract

The binding of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) to structured targets is gaining increasing attention. Here we review experimental and computational studies on the binding kinetics of IDPs. Experiments have yielded both the binding rate constants and the binding mechanisms, the latter via mutation and deletion studies and NMR techniques. Most computational studies have aimed at qualitative understanding of the binding rate constants or at mapping the free energy surfaces after the IDPs are engaged with their targets. The experiments and computation show that IDPs generally gain structures after they are engaged with their targets; that is, interactions with the targets facilitate the IDPs' folding. It also seems clear that the initial contact of an IDP with the target is formed by just a segment, not the entire IDP. The docking of one segment to its sub-site followed by coalescing of other segments around the corresponding sub-sites emerges as a recurring feature in the binding of IDPs. Such a dock-and-coalesce model forms the basis for quantitative calculation of binding rate constants. For both disordered and ordered proteins, strong electrostatic attraction with their targets can enhance the binding rate constants by several orders of magnitude. There are now tremendous opportunities in narrowing the gap in our understanding of IDPs relative to ordered proteins with regard to binding kinetics.

Graphical abstract: Rate constants and mechanisms of intrinsically disordered proteins binding to structured targets

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
13 abr 2012
Accepted
30 mai 2012
First published
30 mai 2012

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012,14, 10466-10476

Rate constants and mechanisms of intrinsically disordered proteins binding to structured targets

H. Zhou, X. Pang and C. Lu, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 10466 DOI: 10.1039/C2CP41196B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements