Conformational memory of a protein revealed by single-molecule spectroscopy

Schörner, M., Beyer, S. R., Southall, J., Cogdell, R. J. and Köhler, J. (2015) Conformational memory of a protein revealed by single-molecule spectroscopy. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119(44), pp. 13964-13970. (doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b07494) (PMID:26420643)

Abstract

Proteins are supramolecular machines that carry out a wide range of different functions, many of which require flexibility. Up until now spontaneous conformational fluctuations of proteins have always been assumed to reflect a stochastic random process. However, if changing between different conformational states was random, then it would be difficult to understand how conformational control of protein function could have evolved. Here we demonstrate that a single protein can show conformational memory. This is exactly the process that can facilitate the evolution of control of switching between two conformational states that can then be used to regulate protein function.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cogdell, Professor Richard
• Authors: Schörner, M., Beyer, S. R., Southall, J., Cogdell, R. J., and Köhler, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry B
• ISSN: 1520-6106
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5207