Edelstein SJ. A novel equation for cooperativity of the allosteric state function.
J Mol Biol 2013;
426:39-42. [PMID:
24051418 PMCID:
PMC3898861 DOI:
10.1016/j.jmb.2013.09.010]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Revised: 09/07/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The MWC (Monod–Wyman–Changeux) allosteric model postulates concerted conformational changes between two states: the intrinsically more stable T state with relatively weak ligand binding and the R state with relatively strong ligand binding. The model distinguishes between Y¯ (the fractional occupation of the binding sites) and R¯ (the fraction of molecules in the R state). Cooperativity (measured by the Hill coefficient) has strikingly different properties for Y¯ and R¯. For the latter, cooperativity depends only on the relative affinities of the two states, not on their relative intrinsic stabilities, as demonstrated here with a simple new equation relating the Hill coefficient to R¯.
A simple new equation relating the Hill coefficient to R¯ is presented.
This equation shows that cooperativity (measured by the Hill coefficient) for R¯ depends only on the relative affinities of the two states, not on their relative intrinsic stabilities.
The curves for R¯ may be characterized by Hill coefficients < 1, even under conditions of positive cooperativity.
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