Folding of Right- and Left-Handed Three-Helix Proteins

Authors

  • Oxana V. Galzitskaya,

    Corresponding author
    1. Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Institutskaya Str., Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290 (Russia), Phone: +74956327871, Fax: +74956327871
    • Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Institutskaya Str., Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290 (Russia), Phone: +74956327871, Fax: +74956327871===

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  • Leonid B. Pereyaslavets,

    1. Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Institutskaya Str., Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290 (Russia), Phone: +74956327871, Fax: +74956327871
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  • Anna V. Glyakina

    1. Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Institutskaya Str., Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290 (Russia), Phone: +74956327871, Fax: +74956327871
    2. Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Institutskaya Str. Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290 (Russia)
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Abstract

We are the first to investigate the relationship between protein handedness and the rate of protein folding. Our findings demonstrate that small three-helix, left-handed proteins are less densely packed and should result in faster folding than that of right-handed, three-helix proteins. At the same time, right-handed, three-helix proteins have higher mechanical stability than the left-handed proteins. Moreover, from our analysis we have revealed that bacterial three-helix proteins have some advantages in packing over eukaryotic right-handed, three-helix proteins, which should result in faster folding.

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