Exploring the interplay of stability and function in protein evolution: new methods further elucidate why protein stability is necessarily so tenuous and stability-increasing mutations compromise biological function.

Abstract excerpt

A new split beta-lactamase assay promises experimental testing of the interplay of protein stability and function. Proteins are sufficiently stable to act effectively within cells. However, mutations generally destabilize structure, with effects on free energy that are comparable to the free energy of folding. Assays of protein functionality and stability in vivo enable a quick study of factors that influence...

Topics

• Evolution, Molecular
• Models, Molecular
• Mutation
• Protein Stability
• Proteins
• Thermodynamics