The objective of this study was to evaluate the
suitability of the WW domain as a desirable model system
to understand the folding and stability of an isolated
three-stranded antiparallel β-sheet structure. The
WW domain was subjected to thermal and chaotropic denaturation/reconstitution
utilizing a variety of biophysical methods. This three-stranded
sheet folds reversibly and cooperatively utilizing both
urea and GdnHCl as denaturants; however, the denatured
state retains structure in the form of a hydrophobic cluster
involving at least one aromatic side chain. In contrast
to chaotropic denaturation, thermal denaturation appears
to be more complete and may be a two state process. The
suitability of the WW domain for future studies aimed at
understanding the kinetics and thermodynamics of antiparallel
β-sheet folding clearly emerges from this initial study.
The most exciting and significant result in this manuscript
is the finding that the chaotropic denatured state of WW
has a hydrophobic cluster as discerned by near-UV CD evidence.
The role that the denatured state plays in the folding
and stability of a three-stranded β-sheets, and its
capacity for preventing aggregation may be particularly
important and is the subject of ongoing studies.