REVIEW: The Molten Globule Concept: 45 Years Later

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V. E. Bychkova^*, G. V. Semisotnov, V. A. Balobanov, and A. V. Finkelstein

Institute of Protein Research, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; E-mail: uralm62@rambler.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received June 15, 2017; Revision received July 18, 2017

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In this review, we describe traditional systems where the molten globule (MG) state has been detected and give a brief description of the solution of Levinthal’s paradox. We discuss new results obtained for MG-mediated folding of “nontraditional” proteins and a possible functional role of the MG. We also report new data on the MG, especially the dry molten globule.

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KEY WORDS: protein self-organization folding, phase transitions in proteins, kinetics of protein folding, molten globule, formation and association of protein secondary structure, free-energy barrier, Levinthal’s paradox

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297918140043

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