In: Chemistry
The native and denatured forms of a protein are generally in equilibrium as follows:
Protein (denatured) <--> Protein (native)
For a certain solution of the protein ribonuclease A, in which the total protein concentration is 2.00 x 10-3 M, the concentrations of the denatured and native proteins at both 25.0°C and 37.0°C are given in the following table.
Temperature (C°) |
[Ribonuclease A (denatured)] (M) |
[Ribonuclease A (native)] (M) |
25.0 |
5.10 x 10-6 |
2.00 x 10-3 |
37.0 |
2.80 x 10-4 |
1.70 x 10-3 |
a. Determine ∆G°, ∆H° and DS° for the folding reaction at 27.0° C assuming that it is independent of temperature.
b. What is the denaturation temperature of ribonuclease A under standard state conditions? (This is the temperature at which the Keq = 1.00)
please answer b- I know the answer to a, but have no idea how to approach b
b) I shall need the calculations for part (a). I will tell you how to do it though.
You have said that you got part (a) correct which means that you have found out numeric values for ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0.
You need to assume that ΔH0 and ΔS0 are independent of temperature, i.e, whatever numeric values you have for ΔH0 and ΔS0 will stay constant throughout.
You are given that Keq = 1.000; find out ΔG0 using the relation ΔG0 - -R*T*ln Keq where T is the desired temperature.
We know that ln (1.000) = 0 and hence, ΔG0 = 0.
Next use the relation
ΔG0 = ΔH0 – T*ΔS0 = 0
====> T = ΔH0/ΔS0
Simply divide the value of ΔH0 by the value of ΔS0 obtained in part (a) and you will get T; hope this helps.