Markiewicz BN, Culik RM, Gai F. Tightening up the structure, lighting up the pathway: Application of molecular constraints and light to manipulate protein folding, self-assembly and function.
Sci China Chem 2014;
57:1615-1624. [PMID:
25722715 PMCID:
PMC4337807 DOI:
10.1007/s11426-014-5225-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Chemical cross-linking provides an effective avenue to reduce the conformational entropy of polypeptide chains and hence has become a popular method to induce or force structural formation in peptides and proteins. Recently, other types of molecular constraints, especially photoresponsive linkers and functional groups, have also found increased use in a wide variety of applications. Herein, we provide a concise review of using various forms of molecular strategies to constrain proteins, thereby stabilizing their native states, gaining insight into their folding mechanisms, and/or providing a handle to trigger a conformational process of interest with light. The applications discussed here cover a wide range of topics, ranging from delineating the details of the protein folding energy landscape to controlling protein assembly and function.
Collapse