PROTEIN CHAIN CAN ACHIEVE THE ENERGY MINIMUM WITHOUT EXHAUSTIVE SORTING OF ALL ITS CONFORMATIONS - COMPUTER MODELING AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL THEORY

Energy minimization by a protein chain was studied by the Monte-Carlo method using two-beta-sheet proteins as a model. It was shown that eve n random sequences have an optimal temperature range in which the ener gy minimum is reached without exhaustion of its conformations. This ra nge is determined by the freezing-out temperature for the low-energy f olds of the side chain. A phenomenological model was proposed explaini ng the data obtained.