Protein Folding and Misfolding

Dear Colleagues,

The ability of protein chains to spontaneously form their spatial structures was a long-standing puzzle in molecular biology, especially because the measured rates of spontaneous folding range from microseconds to hours: the difference (at least 11 orders of magnitude) is akin to the difference between the life span of a mosquito and the age of the universe. Now, when this puzzle is solved in its basics, the main interest has been shifted (1) to the "natively disordered" proteins, which usually obtain their definite structure only when interact with target molecules, and (2) to the ability of many protein chains to form not only the "native" (properly working) 3D structures, but also the other ("misfolded") structures, which is also often connected with interaction of these chains with the other molecules.

These reconstructions of protein structures sometimes cause deadly diseases, and therefore the problem of protein folding and misfolding attains a great medical interest. Many new challenges are waiting in the field.

To illustrate for the readers of “Biomolecules” the importance of the protein folding and misfolding problem as a multidisciplinary field of research, this Special Issue is intended to show the various aspects of protein folding, misfolding and unfolding.

We look forward to reading your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Alexei V. Finkelstein
Guest Editor

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