Thermodynamics of Protein-Protein Association

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the thermodynamic parameters associated with protein-protein interactions. Protein-protein interactions may be classified either as homogeneous or heterogeneous, depending upon whether the polypeptide chains involved in association are the same or different. The former class are by definition polymerizations which may result in the formation of oligomers of definite structure and stoichiometry, aggregates composed of a distribution of molecular sizes, or large microtubular structures. Heterogeneous interactions include the association complexes formed between one protein and a different protein or protein fragment and also between nonidentical subunits of the same protein. The examples discussed below fall equally into these two classes.