Title: The protein folding problem: Global optimization of force fields

 

Author(s): Scheraga HA, Liwo A, Oldziej S, Czaplewski C, Pillardy J, Ripoll DR, Vila JA, Kazmierkiewicz R, Saunders JA, Arnautova YA, Jagielska A, Chinchio M, Nanias M
Source: FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE 9: 3296-3323 Suppl. S, SEP 1 2004
    
Abstract: The evolutionary development of a theoretical approach to the protein folding problem, in our laboratory, is traced. The theoretical foundations and the development of a suitable empirical all-atom potential energy function and a global optimization search are examined. Whereas the all-atom approach has thus far succeeded for relatively small molecules and for alpha-helical proteins containing up to 46 residues, it has been necessary to develop a hierarchical approach to treat larger proteins. In the hierarchical approach to single- and multiple-chain proteins, global optimization is carried out for a simplified united residue (UNRES) description of a polypeptide chain to locate the region in which the global minimum lies. Conversion of the UNRES structures in this region to all-atom structures is followed by a local search in this region. The performance of this approach in successive CASP blind tests for predicting protein structure by an ab initio physics-based method is described. Finally, a recent attempt to compute a folding pathway is discussed.

 

Author Keywords: protein folding; empirical force fields; global optimization; folding pathways

 

KeyWords Plus: MULTIPLE-MINIMA PROBLEM; CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE PREDICTION; MONTE-CARLO METHOD; MEMBRANE-BOUND PORTION; POTENTIAL-ENERGY FUNCTIONS; DIFFUSION EQUATION METHOD; COILED-COIL CONFORMATION; PANCREATIC TRYPSIN-INHIBITOR; HYDROGEN-BOND INTERACTIONS; JONES ATOMIC CLUSTERS

 

Addresses: Scheraga HA (reprint author), Cornell Univ, Baker Lab Chem, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
Cornell Univ, Baker Lab Chem, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
E-mail Addresses: has5@cornell.edu

 

Publisher: FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE INC, C/O NORTH SHORE UNIV HOSPITAL, BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER, 350 COMMUNITY DR, MANHASSET, NY 11030 USA
Subject Category: BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; CELL BIOLOGY
IDS Number: 852NS
 
ISSN: 1093-9946