Kanazawa - Proteins must fold in a specific way to function. This is often assisted by molecular chaperones--small proteins whose job is to help others fold to the right shape. Now, Japanese ...

GroEL is thought to assist protein folding in part by providing a passive 'box' in which folding can occur without danger of aggregation. Two new papers now suggest that GroEL can also play a more ...

The chaperonin GroEL binds nonnative substrate protein in the hydrophobic central cavity of an open ring. ATP and GroES binding to the same ring converts this cavity into an encapsulated, hydrophilic ...

Scientists have studied molecular interactions in the chaperonin protein GroEL. GroEL is alternately bound and unbound by a co-chaperonin, GroES. Against expectations, the 'football' complex -- where ...