Is hydrophobic collapse the same as the molten globule state?
There is considerable controversy, stemming from a lack of
experimental data, as to whether the initial collapse involves a
non-specific hydrophobic collapse, followed by subsequent gain of
secondary structure, or whether the initial collapse involves
formation of secondary structure, followed subsequently by
hydrophobic collapse. Both may occur simultaneously. One
to suspect this is that formation of secondary structure is one of
the few ways in which the polypeptide can become compact.
Hydrophobic collapse is usually thought to precede the formation
of a molten globule. A further collapse and formation of additional
secondary structure takes place in a subsequent fast step (ms). This
leads to a compact intermediate with much of the secondary structure
in place but few tertiary interactions. Such species are sometimes