Sequential Events in Ribonuclease A Thermal Unfolding Characterized by Two-Dimensional Infrared Correlation Spectroscopy

The conformational changes in the thermal denaturation of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A was followed with infrared spectra and analyzed by second derivative and two-dimensional correlation techniques. By analyzing the sequential events in each transition stage, the results were consistent with a step-wise thermal denaturation mechanism in which the structural adjustment of the N-terminal and the opening of the central structure of the protein come before the main unfolding process. Non-native turns were found to form along with the unfolding of the native structures. The central region that is composed of some β-sheet and α-helical structures was found to be the most stable part that might form the residual structure at high temperatures.