FIGURE 5.

Schematic representation of the folding funnel, with sketches of the structure(s) of a globular protein. The width of the funnel is proportional to entropy; and the ordinate to enthalpic contribution increasing up to down. At the top, a myriad of random coil disordered states of the denatured system (not shown). At the bottom, the native folded state with correct topology. In the process, the formation of weak bonds is associated to the progressive stabilization of structural elements and a decrease in entropy