Solution effects and the order of the helix-coil transition in polyalanine
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2003
Abstract
A study was conducted on the helix-coil transition in two models of polyalanine that attempt to approximate the interaction of the molecule with the surrounding water by an implicit solvent. It was found that the helix-coil transition in these models was a true thermodynamic phase transition. Though, while polyalanine in gas phase critical exponents that were consistent with a (weak) first order phase transition, the results rather indicate for ASA and DDE solvent models a (weak) second order transition with critical exponents α and γ close to zero and dv close to two. This change in the strength was found to be consistent with the understanding of the protein-water interactions.
Publication Title
Journal of Chemical Physics
Recommended Citation
Peng, Y.,
Hansmann, U.,
&
Alves, N.
(2003).
Solution effects and the order of the helix-coil transition in polyalanine.
Journal of Chemical Physics,
118(5), 2374-2380.
http://doi.org/10.1063/1.1532348
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/8821