Local topology and perestroikas in protein structure and folding dynamics

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Hauptverfasser: Begun, Alexander, Chernodub, Maxim N., Molochkov, Alexander, Niemi, Antti J.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Begun, Alexander
Chernodub, Maxim N.
Molochkov, Alexander
Niemi, Antti J.
author_facet Begun, Alexander
Chernodub, Maxim N.
Molochkov, Alexander
Niemi, Antti J.
contents Methods of local topology are introduced to the field of protein physics. This is achieved by explaining how the folding and unfolding processes of a globular protein alter the local topology of the protein's C-alpha backbone through conformational bifurcations. The mathematical formulation builds on the concept of Arnol'd's perestroikas, by extending it to piecewise linear chains using the discrete Frenet frame formalism. In the low-temperature folded phase, the backbone geometry generalizes the concept of a Peano curve, with its modular building blocks modeled by soliton solutions of a discretized nonlinear Schroedinger equation. The onset of thermal unfolding begins when perestroikas change the flattening and branch points that determine the centers of solitons. When temperature increases, the perestroikas cascade, which leads to a progressive disintegration of the modular structures. The folding and unfolding processes are quantitatively characterized by a correlation function that describes the evolution of perestroikas under temperature changes. The approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the Physics of protein folding and unfolding transitions, contributing to the broader field of protein structure and dynamics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_06348
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Local topology and perestroikas in protein structure and folding dynamics
Begun, Alexander
Chernodub, Maxim N.
Molochkov, Alexander
Niemi, Antti J.
Biological Physics
Soft Condensed Matter
Mathematical Physics
Chemical Physics
Methods of local topology are introduced to the field of protein physics. This is achieved by explaining how the folding and unfolding processes of a globular protein alter the local topology of the protein's C-alpha backbone through conformational bifurcations. The mathematical formulation builds on the concept of Arnol'd's perestroikas, by extending it to piecewise linear chains using the discrete Frenet frame formalism. In the low-temperature folded phase, the backbone geometry generalizes the concept of a Peano curve, with its modular building blocks modeled by soliton solutions of a discretized nonlinear Schroedinger equation. The onset of thermal unfolding begins when perestroikas change the flattening and branch points that determine the centers of solitons. When temperature increases, the perestroikas cascade, which leads to a progressive disintegration of the modular structures. The folding and unfolding processes are quantitatively characterized by a correlation function that describes the evolution of perestroikas under temperature changes. The approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the Physics of protein folding and unfolding transitions, contributing to the broader field of protein structure and dynamics.
title Local topology and perestroikas in protein structure and folding dynamics
topic Biological Physics
Soft Condensed Matter
Mathematical Physics
Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.06348