Linking thermodynamics and measurements of protein stability

Abstract

We review the background, theory and general equations for the analysis of equilibrium protein unfolding experiments, focusing on denaturant and heat-induced unfolding. The primary focus is on the thermodynamics of reversible folding/unfolding transitions and the experimental methods that are available for extracting thermodynamic parameters. We highlight the importance of modelling both how the folding equilibrium depends on a perturbing variable such as temperature or denaturant concentration, and the importance of modelling the baselines in the experimental observables.