Fig. 6. Model of chaperone Spy in recognition, interaction, and release of the client Im7.

Unfolded client Im7 (Im7_U, purple) is recognized and held in a compacted ensemble state by the chaperone Spy. The client Im7 becomes more dynamic when bound to Spy. Partially folded Im7 binds with its locally frustrated segment to Spy. Client release is achieved by propagation toward a fully folded client, which in the case of Im7 can be achieved by binding to its natural complex partner colicin E7.