The Marginal Stability of Proteins: How the Jiggling and Wiggling of Atoms is Connected to Neutral Evolution

Abstract

Here we propose that the upper bound marginal stability of proteins (7.4kcal/mol) is a universal property that includes macro-molecular complexes andis not affected by molecular changes such as mutations and Post-TranslationalModifications. Its existence is, essentially, a consequence of the Anfinsenthermodynamic hypothesis rather than a result of an evolutive process. Thisresult enables us to conjecture that neutral evolution should also be, withrespect to protein stability, a universal phenomenon.