Energy Loading in the Metastable Native Structure of Inhibitory Serpins

To understand structural and functional basis of loaded energy in the metastable native structure of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors), we characterized mutations that decreased the loaded energy of ${\alpha}$$_1$-antitrypsin and simultaneously influenced its inhibitory activity. Various folding defects such as side-chain locking, buried polar groups in unfavorable hydrophobic environment, and cavities were found as the structural basis of the metastability of ${\alpha}$$_1$-antitrypsin in a region presumably directly involved in the formation of complex between the inhibitor and a target protease.(omitted)