Linear rate-equilibrium (RE) relations, also known as linear free energy relations, are widely observed in chemical reactions, including protein folding, enzymatic catalysis, and channel gating. Despite the widespread occurrence of linear RE relations, the principles underlying the linear relation between changes in activation and equilibrium energy in macromolecular reactions remain enigmatic.

read more

• Evidence for symmetry in the elementary process of bidirectional torque generation by the bacterial flagellar motor [Biophysics_And_Computational_Biology]
  Evidence for symmetry in the elementary process of bidire...

  The bacterial flagellar motor can rotate in both counterclockwise (CCW) and clockwise (CW) directions. It has been shown that the sodium ion-driven chimeric flagellar motor rotates with 26 steps...

  Read Full Story »
• Protein interactions central to stabilizing the K+ channel selectivity filter in a four-sited configuration for selective K+ permeation [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
  Protein interactions central to stabilizing the K+ channe...

  The structural and functional conversion of the nonselective NaK channel to a K+ selective channel (NaK2K) allows us to identify two key residues, Tyr and Asp in the filter sequence of TVGYGD...

  Read Full Story »
• Voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV) protein dissection creates a set of functional pore-only proteins [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
  Voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV) protein dissection cre...

  Many voltage-gated ion channel (VGIC) superfamily members contain six-transmembrane segments in which the first four form a voltage-sensing domain (VSD) and the last two form the pore domain (PD...

  Read Full Story »
• Deciphering the Kinetic Binding Mechanism of Dimeric Ligands [Molecular Biophysics]
  Deciphering the Kinetic Binding Mechanism of Dimeric Liga...

  Dimeric ligands can be potent inhibitors of protein-protein or enzyme-substrate interactions. They have increased affinity and specificity toward their targets due to their ability to bind two...

  Read Full Story »
• Initiation of the proton pump of cytochrome c oxidase [Biophysics_And_Computational_Biology]
  Initiation of the proton pump of cytochrome c oxidase [Bi...

  Cytochrome c oxidase is the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain that is responsible for biological energy conversion in mitochondria and aerobic bacteria. The membrane-bound enzyme converts...

  Read Full Story »