Question

Two prevailing theories of protein folding are the “energy landscape” and “discrete intermediate” theories. In simple language, outline these two theories.

Answer 1

The classical approach of protein folding describes this process as an almost continuous series of discrete intermediators. In contrast, energy landscape theory considers folding as the progressive organization of a group of partially folded structures through which the protein first passes along the path of the folded structure. As a consequence, the protein has a rough funnel-like landscape, which is baised toward the basic structure. Integrating minimal theory and simulation with experiments has completely transformed our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that regulate protein folding.