Why Do Proteins Fold?
Proteins are chains of amino acids — small molecules that link together like beads on a string. There are 20 types, each with different properties.
This chain spontaneously curls into a specific 3D shape. That shape is what makes the protein work — as an enzyme, antibody, or structural fiber. When it folds wrong, diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can result.
3100possible shapes for 100 amino acids
Searching them all would take longer than the age of the universe. Yet proteins fold in microseconds. This is Levinthal's paradox — and statistical mechanics holds the answer.
Trp-cage (PDB: 1L2Y) — one of the smallest proteins, 20 amino acids
5 chapters
01Energy & Order
02The Sharp Switch
03Search vs Collapse
04The Landscape
05Watching It Fold