Mechanical unfolding of ubiquitin molecules.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Mechanical stretching of ubiquitin and of its several repeats are studied through molecular-dynamics simulations. A Go-type model [H. Abe and N. Go, Biopolymers 20, 1013 (1981)] with a realistic contact map and with Lennard-Jones contact interactions is used. The model qualitatively reproduces the experimentally observed differences between force-extension patterns obtained on polyubiquitins stretched by various linkages. The terminal-to-terminal stretching of polyubiquitin results in peak forces similar to those measured for titin-based polyproteins and of a magnitude that matches measurements. Consistent with the experimental measurements, the simulated peak forces depend on the pulling speed logarithmically when thermal fluctuations are explicitly introduced. These results validate the application of topology-based models in the study of the mechanical stretching of proteins.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Cieplak, M; Marszalek, PE

Published Date

  • November 2005

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 123 / 19

Start / End Page

  • 194903 -

PubMed ID

  • 16321109

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1089-7690

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0021-9606

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1063/1.2046609

Language

  • eng