HINGE-BENDING MOTION IN CITRATE SYNTHASE ARISING FROM NORMAL-MODE CALCULATIONS

A normal mode analysis of the closed form of dimeric citrate synthase has been performed, The largest-amplitude collective motion predicted by this method compares well with the crystallographically observed hi nge-bending motion. Such a result supports those obtained previously i n the case of hinge-bending motions of smaller systems, such as lysozy me or hexokinase. Taken together, all these results suggest that low-f requency normal modes may become useful for determining a first approx imation of the conformational path between the closed and open forms o f these proteins. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.