Theory 29/Single-Molecule Biophysics
Folding Is a Barrier Ratio
The claim
Protein folding rates are set by the ratio of barrier height to attempt frequency, so two proteins with the same stability can fold at very different rates.
01The mechanism
The rate is the product of how often the chain attempts the transition and how likely it is to succeed; stability sets only the latter.
02Predictions
- P1Rates should track the ratio.
- P2Stability alone should mispredict.
03Refutation
Rates tracking stability would remove the attempt term.