Year: 1996
Type: article
Abstract: The force required to rupture the streptavidin-biotin complex was calculated here by computer simulations. The computed force agrees well with that obtained by recent single molecule atomic force microscope experiments. These simulations suggest a detailed multiple-pathway rupture mechanism involving five major unbinding steps. Binding forces and specificity are attributed to a hydrogen bond network between the biotin ligand and residues within the binding pocket of streptavidin. During rupture, additional water bridges substantially enhance the stability of the complex and even dominate the binding interactions. In contrast, steric restraints do not appear to contribute to the binding forces, although conformational motions were observed.
Source: Science
Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2003240840