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Self-Assembly and Nucleation of a Two-Dimensional Array of Protein Subunits

1980; Springer Nature; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-642-67688-8_36

0172-6625

Harold Erickson,

Protein Structure and Dynamics

Crystallization of protein subunits into a two-dimensional lattice is a cooperative phenomenon, which means that large polymers are much more stable than small ones. The reason is that molecules in the interior of the lattice have the maximum number of intersub-unit bonds, whereas those on the edge have exposed bond sites. Since the ratio of perimeter to internal surface decreases as the array increases in size the large polymers have more bond energy per subunit.