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arXiv · 0706.2380

Tightening of knots in proteins

Joanna I. Sułkowska·Piotr Sułkowski·Piotr Szymczak·Marek Cieplak
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Abstract

We perform theoretical studies of stretching of 20 proteins with knots within a coarse grained model. The knot's ends are found to jump to well defined sequential locations that are associated with sharp turns whereas in homopolymers they diffuse around and eventually slide off. The waiting times of the jumps are increasingly stochastic as the temperature is raised. Larger knots do not return to their native locations when a protein is released after stretching.

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Joanna I. Sułkowska, Piotr Sułkowski, Piotr Szymczak, Marek Cieplak. 2007-06-15. Tightening of knots in proteins. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.100.058106

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