- #1
knulp
- 6
- 0
I have a question about protein folding. I have heard that there is a free energy barrier to overcome in going from the unfolded (ensemble) to folded states, and that this barrier is largely entropic -- i.e., as the (idealized, general) protein starts to fold, it loses more in entropy than it gains (loses) in enthalpy. If so, then why does the protein take these steps (of going from the unfolded to the transition state) spontaneously in the first place?