Eigenvalues of the Homogeneous Finite Linear One Step Master Equation: Applications to Downhill Folding

摘要

Motivated by claims about the nature of the observed timescales in proteinsystems said to fold downhill, we have studied the finite, linear masterequation which is a model of the downhill process. By solving for the systemeigenvalues, we prove the often stated claim that in situations where there isno free energy barrier, a transition between single and multi-exponentialkinetics occurs at sufficient bias (towards the native state). Consequences forprotein folding, especially the downhill folding scenario, are brieflydiscussed.