Understanding biology by stretching proteins: recent progress

Albert Galera-Prat, Angel Gómez-Sicilia, Andres F. Oberhauser, Marek Cieplak, Mariano Carrión-Vázquez

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Single molecule manipulation techniques combined with molecular dynamics simulations and protein engineering have enabled, during the last decade, the mechanical properties of proteins to be studied directly, thereby giving birth to the field of protein nanomechanics. Recent data obtained from such techniques have helped gain insight into the structural bases of protein resistance against forced unfolding, as well as revealing structural motifs involved in mechanical stability. Also, important technical developments have provided new perspectives into protein folding. Eventually, new and exciting data have shown that mechanical properties are key factors in cell signaling and pathologies, and have been used to rationally tune these properties in a variety of proteins. Crown

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)63-69
Number of pages7
JournalCurrent Opinion in Structural Biology
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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