A protein with five disulfide bonds was treated with $\beta$-mercaptoethanol and urea. Once the protein was denatured, the $\beta$-mercaptoethanol and urea were removed by dialysis. What is the likelihood that all five disulfide bonds will reform correctly? A)1/5 or 20% B)1/10 or 10% C)1/10² or 4% D)1/5! = 1/120 or 0.83% E)1/945 or 0.11%

Question

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The likelihood that all five disulfide bonds will reform correctly is 1/945 or 0.11%. This is because there are 10 cysteines, and the probability of forming the correct disulfide bond for each pair is 1/9, 1/7, 1/5, 1/3, and 1/1, respectively, leading to a total probability of 1/(9*7*5*3*1) = 1/945.

A Protein with Five Disulfide Bonds Was Treated With β\betaβ -Mercaptoethanol and Urea

A Protein with Five Disulfide Bonds Was Treated With $\beta$ -Mercaptoethanol and Urea