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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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Microfluidic Mixers for Studying Protein Folding
Published on: April 10, 2012
Turbulent phenomena in protein folding
Igor V Kalgin1, Sergei F Chekmarev
1Department of Physics, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Summary
Protein folding flows exhibit turbulence-like properties, including fractal dynamics and 3D eddies, similar to hydrodynamic turbulence. This suggests a shared underlying cascade mechanism for structural transformations in both systems.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biophysics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Protein folding and hydrodynamic turbulence are complex phenomena studied independently.
- Existing theories utilize distinct formalisms, hindering cross-disciplinary insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential similarities between protein folding dynamics and turbulent fluid flows.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms driving these similarities.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of slow folding trajectories of a benchmark model protein (SH3 domain).
- Characterization of protein folding flows in a 3D space of collective variables.
- Application of concepts from turbulence theory, including fractal analysis and eddy structures.
Main Results:
- Slow protein folding flows display fractal characteristics and 3D eddies, mirroring turbulent fluid behavior.
- Observed self-similarity in flux variations with a scaling exponent (h=1/3) consistent with Kolmogorov's theory.
- Identified distinct folding (net folding) and unfolding (net unfolding) flow regions with scale-directed cascades.
- Fast folding trajectories exhibited 'laminar' flow, lacking self-similarity.
Conclusions:
- Protein folding dynamics, particularly slow trajectories, share significant properties with turbulent fluid flows.
- A common cascade mechanism for structural transformations likely underlies both phenomena.
- This finding bridges molecular biophysics and fluid dynamics, offering new perspectives on complex system dynamics.
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