Preferential conformer stabilization multiple conformers

Figure 5 Proteins exist in multiple stable energy levels (black line), with populations (red Une) that can be preferentially stabilized by binding to otha- molecules, (a) An unbound protein (two subunits, blue and green) exists in multiple stable conformations. (b) The binding of one molecule (yellow) stabilizes two of these possible conformations, (c) A second molecule (pink) can now preferentially bind one of the previously stabilized conformations, thereby stabilizing it and forming a single, well-defined complex.

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