Functionals linear in curvature and statistics of helical proteins

V. V. Nesterenko, A. Feoli, G. Scarpetta

Published 2003-10-05Version 1

The free energy of globular protein chain is considered to be a functional defined on smooth curves in three dimensional Euclidean space. From the requirement of geometrical invariance, together with basic facts on conformation of helical proteins and dynamical characteristics of the protein chains, we are able to determine, in a unique way, the exact form of the free energy functional. Namely, the free energy density should be a linear function of the curvature of curves on which the free energy functional is defined. This model can be used, for example, in Monte Carlo simulations of exhaustive searching the native stable state of the protein chain.