It has long been appreciated that hydrophobic folding is an important element of protein structure formation. Here it is demonstrated for the first time that the electrochemical or chemical reduction of a nicotinamide in a model protein, which increases hydrophobicity, can drive hydrophobic folding and assembly in such a way as to lift a weight or otherwise contract against a constant tensional force. The model protein, poly[0.73(GVGVP),0.27(GK(NMeN)GVP], can be gamma-irradiation cross-linked to form an elastic matrix which contracts on raising the temperature from below to above the transition range for hydrophobic folding and assembly. On reduction of the N-methyl nicotinamide, (NMeN), the transition temperature range is lowered from above to below 20 degrees C to drive contraction due to hydrophobic folding with the performance of mechanical work.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1994.2449DOI Listing

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