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. 2002 Oct;83(4):2211–2218. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(02)73981-7

Plastic deformation of protein monolayers.

Mukta Singh-Zocchi 1, Jeungphill Hanne 1, Giovanni Zocchi 1
PMCID: PMC1302309  PMID: 12324438

Abstract

Globular proteins are peculiar solids that display both local stability of their conformation and the ability to undergo large cooperative changes of shape (conformational changes). If one forces a large deformation of the molecule, such that the structure is necessarily changed, it is not obvious whether the deformed globule can still remain a solid or whether it will melt. Is it possible to plastically deform a protein? Here we investigate this question with a micro-mechanical experiment on a small region (approximately 10 molecules) of a protein monolayer adsorbed on a rigid surface. For the two proteins studied, albumin and myoglobin, we observed that the molecules can be substantially deformed (approximately 1-2 nm deformation) by comparatively small stresses applied for sufficiently long times. The deformation is irreversible, and the protein remains in the solid state (i.e., displays a nonzero shear modulus). The dynamics of the deformation is approximately logarithmic in time, similar to creep in solids. These results show that globular proteins adsorbed on a surface can be plastically deformed.

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Selected References

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