- Folding (chemistry)
In chemistry folding is the process by which a molecule assumes its shape or conformation. The process can also be described as intramolecular self-assembly where the molecule is directed to form a specific shape through noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, hydrophobic forces, van der Waals forces, pi-pi interactions, and/or electrostatic effects.
The most active area of interest in the folding of molecules is the process of
protein folding , which is the shape that is assumed by a specific sequence ofamino acids in a protein. The shape of the folded protein can be used to understand its function and design drugs to influence the processes that it is involved in.There is also a great deal of interest in the construction of artificial folding molecules or
foldamers . They are studied as models of biological molecules and potential application to the development of new functional materials.See also
*
Molecular self-assembly
*Foldamers
*Protein folding
*Secondary structure
*Tertiary structure References
*A Field Guide to Foldamers. Hill, D. J.; Mio, M. J.; Prince, R. B.; Hughes, T.; Moore, J. S. "Chem. Rev." 2001, "101", 3893-4011 DOI|10.1021/cr990120t.
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