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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

An Introduction to Worm Lab: from Culturing Worms to Mutagenesis
Published on: January 11, 2011
Mutagenic induction of an ultra-fast water-chain proton wire
Vered Wineman-Fisher1, Ron Simkovich2, Dan Huppert2
1Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel. ymiller@bgu.ac.il and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beér-Sheva 84105, Israel.
Abstract:
Replacement of the hydroxyl group of a hydrophilic sidechain by an H atom in the proton wire of GFP induces formation of a water-chain proton wire. Surprisingly, this "non-native" water chain functions as a proton wire with response times within 10 ps of the wild type protein. This remarkable rate retention is understood as a natural consequence of the well-known Grotthuss mechanism of proton transfer in water.

