The Marginal Stability of Proteins: How Jiggling and Wiggling of Atoms are Connected to Neutral Evolution

Authors

Osvaldo A. Martin, Jorge A. Vila

Categories

Abstract

Here we propose that the upper bound marginal stability of proteins (7.4 kcal/mol) is a universal property that includes macro-molecular complexes and is not affected by molecular changes such as mutations and Post-Translational Modifications. Its existence is, essentially, a consequence of the Anfinsen thermodynamic hypothesis rather than a result of an evolutive process. This result enables us to conjecture that neutral evolution should also be, with respect to protein stability, a universal phenomenon.