| "Protein folding is defined as a process by which a polypeptide chain performs a search in conformational space with the objective of achieving the so-called native conformation to a global free-energy minimum under a given set of physiological conditions of the medium." Misfolding then, is the process by which this objective is not achieved.;A paradigm, structure→function, for achieving this objective is followed by about 70% of proteins. The question is what happens to the rest not following this paradigm. Strangely enough they also fold and function but in a structureless state! This is the point where PKCs (Protein Kinase Cs) come in. The connection is explored in this thesis.;The model is based on growth models of Ratkowsky, Richards, etc. ([75)] for a three-parameter model to handle the quality assessment of the folding process. Thus a complete distribution can be found, thanks to the scale, location and the shape parameters. The critical time points at which the misfolded proteins turn into gel and dangerous plaques are quantified and exemplified in a graph (Figure 7.7). |
