Glassy Dynamics of Side-Chain Ordering in a Simple Model of Protein Folding

Citation:

Kussell, E. & Shakhnovich, E.I. Glassy Dynamics of Side-Chain Ordering in a Simple Model of Protein Folding. Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 16, 168101 (2002).

Date Published:

2002

Abstract:

We introduce a modified version of protein lattice models in which monomers have several spin states, representing side-chain rotamers. Completion of folding corresponds to reaching the native backbone configuration with complete ordering of side chains. We find that as temperature is lowered, side-chain ordering becomes much slower than backbone folding. The presence of side chains leads to nonexponential kinetics and a broad distribution of relaxation times.

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