Nature of Denaturing Agents - Monte-Carlo Simulations of Bimolecular Complexes Involving Urea and N-Methylacetamide in Aqueous-Solution

by Pranata, J.

Monte Carlo simulations were utilized to investigate the formation of dimers involving urea and N-methylacetamide (NMA) inaqueous solution. The dimers-show much variation in structure, including both singly and doubly hydrogen-bonded as well as stacked configurations, depending on their constitution and intermolecular separation. Relative stabilities of the dimers were found to be urea dimer > mixed dimer > NMA dimer. These results suggest that protein denaturation in the presence of urea involves the participation of aggregates of the denaturant.

Journal
Journal of Physical Chemistry
Volume
99
Issue
13
Year
1995
Start Page
4855-4859
URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/j100013a066
ISBN/ISSN
0022-3654
DOI
10.1021/j100013a066