Article
Identifying kinetic barriers to mechanical unfolding of the T. thermophila ribozyme.
Science (New York, N.Y.) - 21 Mar 2003
Onoa Bibiana, Dumont Sophie, Liphardt Jan, Smith Steven B, Tinoco Ignacio, Bustamante Carlos
Abstract excerpt
Mechanical unfolding trajectories for single molecules of the Tetrahymena thermophila ribozyme display eight intermediates corresponding to discrete kinetic barriers that oppose mechanical unfolding with lifetimes of seconds and rupture forces between 10 and 30 piconewtons. Barriers are magnesium dependent and correspond to known intra- and interdomain interactions. Several barrier structures are "brittle,"...
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