Investigation of the Effect of Crowding on Cooperativity in the Folding of Phosphoglycerate Kinase

Experiments on the folding mechanics of Phosphoglycerate Kinase(PGK) confirm a two state thermal transition between the native and denatured states, and a multi-state transition under pressure denaturation. -The introduction of crowding agents reduces the intermediate states under pressure denaturation. -Classical folding theory is based on in vitro experimentation, but does not accurately predict folding mechanics in the crowded cellular environment. -Understanding the in vivo folding process may lead to better treatments for disease associated with protein misfolding.