Phi-Value and NMR Structural Analysis of a Coupled Native-State Prolyl Isomerization and Conformational Protein Folding Process
Prolyl cis/trans isomerization is a rate-limiting step in protein folding, often coupling directly to the acquisition of native structure. Here, we investigated the interplay between folding and prolyl isomerization in the N2 domain of the gene-3-protein from filamentous phage fd, which adopts a native-state cis/trans equilibrium at Pro161. Using mutational and ?-value analysis, we identified a discrete folding nucleus encompassing the ?-strands surrounding Pro161. These native-like interactions...
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