Symmetry and the energy landscapes of biomolecules
Abstract
The role of symmetry in the folding of proteins is discussed using energy landscape theory. An analytical argument shows it is much easier to find sequences with funneled energy landscape capable of fast folding if the structure is symmetric. The analogy with phase transitions of small clusters with magic numbers is discussed.
Footnotes
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† The present paper was started as a collaboration between P.G.W. and Hans Frauenfelder. As the paper progressed, it became clear that the crucial ideas were entirely those of P.G.W. Hans Frauenfelder therefore removed his name, but nevertheless presented the paper at the conference that P.G.W. was unable to attend.
- Copyright © 1996, The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
