Protein Folding
The physical process by which a polypeptide chain folds spontaneously into a characteristic 3D functional native structure.
Governing formula
Energy Funnel Concept: Minimizing Native State Free Energy G
SI unit
kJ/mol (Conformational Stability)
In depth
Driven by the hydrophobic effect (non-polar amino acids buried inside to maximize water entropy), hydrogen bonding, and Van der Waals interactions. Levinthal's paradox proves folding follows a directed energy funnel landscape rather than random conformational search.
Examples in the real world
Misfolded prion proteins forming insoluble amyloid plaques in neurodegenerative diseases.