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Electric field-driven disruption of a native beta-sheet protein conformation and generation of a helix-structure
Pedro Ojeda-May1, Martin E Garcia
1Theoretische Physik, Universität Kassel, Fachbereich 10, Kassel, Germany. pojeda@physik.uni-kassel.de
Abstract:
We demonstrate that an external constant electric field is able to modify the secondary structure of a protein and induce a transition from a beta-sheet into a helix-like conformation. This dramatic change is driven by a global rearrangement of the dipole moments at the amide planes. We also predict electric-field-induced modifications of the intermediate states of the protein.
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