Myths And Verities In Protein Folding Theories [Paperback]

This book provides an account of the disastrous story of a whole field of research which went astray in different directions, in attempts to solve a problem by using the wrong tools aimed at the wrong target.It all started from the misinterpretation of Schellman's experiments which were carried out in the mid-1950s, and which were later encapsulated by the so-called Hydrogen-bond inventory argument. This has led Kauzmann to propose the hydrophobic effect, while dismissing the more important hydrophilic effects, in proteins.In addition, as a result of the misinterpretation of Anfinsen's hypothesis, as well as a misunderstanding of the Second Law, people attempted a futile search for the structure of proteins in the global minimum of either the Energy, or the Gibbs Energy Landscape.