Simulated refolding of stretched titin immunoglobulin domains

Mu Gao, Hui Lu, Klaus Schulten

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Steered molecular dynamics (SMD) is used to investigate forced unfolding and spontaneous refolding of immunoglobulin 127, a domain of the muscle protein titin. Previous SMD simulations revealed the events leading to stretch-induced unfolding of 127, the rupture of hydrogen bonds bridging β-strands A and B, and those bridging β-strands A′ and G, the latter rupture occurring at an extension of ∼15 Å and preceding the complete unfolding. Simulations are now used to study the refolding of partially unfolded 127 domains. The results reveal that stretched domains with ruptured interstrand hydrogen bonds shrink along the extension direction. Two types of refolding patterns are recognized: for separated β-strands A′ and G, in most simulations five of the six hydrogen bonds between A′ and G stably reformed in 2 ns, whereas for separated β-strands A and B hydrogen bonds seldom reformed in eight 2-ns simulations. The mechanical stability of the partially refolded intermediates has been tested by re-stretching.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2268-2277
Number of pages10
JournalBiophysical journal
Volume81
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics

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