We have already convinced ourselves that most of the activities in living organisms are regulated by proteins. All proteins start out on a ribosome as a linear sequence of aminoacids. This linear sequence must fold during and after the synthesis so that the protein can take up its native conformation . Recall that the native conformation of a protein is a stable three-dimensional structure that strongly determines a protein's biological function. The native conformation of a protein is only marginally stable because it depends on the environment. Modest changes in the environment can cause structural changes in the protein, thus affecting its function. Proteins are very used to the cell environment. Therefore, environmental conditions different from those in the cell can result in structural changes. When a protein loses its biological function as a result of a loss of three-dimensional structure, we say that the protein has undergone denaturation. Proteins can be denatured not only by heat but also by extremes of pH, since these two extreme conditions affect the weak interactions and the hydrogen bonds, which are mainly responsible for a protein's three-dimensional structure. It is important to understand that the denatured state of the protein does not equate with the unfolding of the protein and randomization of conformation. Actually, denatured proteins exist in a set of partially folded states that are currently poorly understood.

The folding pathway of a large polypeptide chain is very complicated, and not all the principles that guide the process have been worked out. However, many plausible models have attempted to describe protein folding. One model views folding as a hierarchical process where local secondary structures form first. Under this model, αα helices and ββ sheets form first, with longer range interactions between helices and sheets forming super-secondary structures later. This process continues until the entire polypeptide folds. An alternative model describes folding as a spontaneous collapse of the polypeptide into a compact state. This collapsed state is known as a molten globule. It may be that the actual folding process of proteins incorporates features of both models. Instead of following a single pathway, a population of peptide molecules may take a variety of routes. Thermodynamically, the folding process can be viewed as a kind of free-energy funnel, where the unfolded states are characterized by a high degree of conformational entropy and relatively high free energy. In a trivialized definition, entropy is a measure of chaos, a measure of all different conformational states that the protein can be in. Obviously, there is more chaos in the protein in its unfolded state. On the other hand high free energy is a measure of unstableness, which is higher in a protein's unfolded state. Therefore, as folding proceeds, the narrowing of the funnel represents a decrease in the number of conformational states present. Local minima along the sides of the free energy funnel represent transition states that are semistable and can briefly slow the protein states since it takes some time for the protein to jump out of the local minima. At the bottom of the funnel, also known as the global minimum, an ensemble of folding intermediates are reduced to a single conformation. It is important to realize that although we often describe the free energy funnel as having one global minimum - that is, one native conformation - a protein can have a small set of native conformations, each one important for its biological function(s).

Figure 1

Free Energy Funnel

It has been experimentally confirmed that not all proteins fold spontaneously in the cell. For many proteins the folding process is facilitated by the action of specialized proteins known as chaperones. Molecular chaperones are proteins that interact with partially folded or improperly folded polypeptides to faciliate correct folding pathways of provide microenvironments so that folding can occur. Chaperones are not the only proteins to facilitate protein folding. Two enzymes, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and peptide prolyl cis-trans isomerase(PPI), catalyze isomerization reactions and are required for the folding pathways of a number of proteins.

There are three major theoretical methods for predicting the structure of proteins: Comparative Modelling, Fold Recognition, and ab initio Prediction.

Novel computational methods and large scale distributed computing are being used by Folding@Home to simulate folding and to examine folding related diseases. Please visit Folding@Home to learn more about this distributed computing project.

It is very important for proteins to achieve their native conformation since failure to do so may lead to serious problems in the accomplishment of its biological function. Defects in protein folding may be the molecular cause of a range of human genetic disorders. For example, cystic fibrosis is caused by defects in a membrane-bound protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This protein serves as a channel for chloride ions. The most common cystic fibrosis-causing mutation is the deletion of a Phe residue at position 508 in CFTR, which causes improper folding of the protein. Many of the disease-related mutations in collagen alco cause defective folding. A misfolded protein known as prion appears to be the agent of a number of rare degenerative brain diseases in mammals, like the mad cow disease. Related diseases include kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob. The diseases are sometimes referred to as spongiform encephalopathies, so named because the brain becomes riddled with holes. Prion, the misfolded protein, is a normal constituent of brain tissue in all mammals, whose function is not yet known. A complete understanding of prion diseases awaits new information about how prion protein affects brain function, as well as more detailed structural information about the protein. Therefore, improved understanding of protein folding may lead to new therapies for cystic fibrosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, and many other diseases.