Nature’s Origami: Protein Folding Is 'Hit And Miss' Process

Sometimes known as “nature’s origami”, the way that proteins fold is vital to ensuring they function correctly. But researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered this is a ‘hit and miss’ process, with proteins potentially folding wrongly many times before they form the correct structure for their intended purpose.

The body’s proteins carry out numerous functions and play a crucial role in the growth, repair and workings of cells. Sheena Radford, Professor of Structural Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds, says: “There’s a fine balance between a protein folding into the correct shape so that it can carry out its job efficiently and it folding incorrectly, which can lead to disease. Just one wrong step can tip that balance.”

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