Universal kinetics of helix-coil transition in gelatin

By covering a much wider concentration range than previous studies we find a very unusual exponential dependence of the rate of helix formation on concentration of gelatin in water and ethylene glycol solutions. By applying a procedure of concentration-temperature superposition we build a master curve describing the initial renaturation rates in both solvents. The growth of the normalized helical fraction chi(t) is a first-order process, with a rate constant consistent with cis-trans isomerization, in most situations. We propose that association of three separate chains to form a triple helical nucleus occurs rapidly and contributes less to the helical onset than previously thought. The measured helix content is a result of lengthening of the triple helix after nucleation, by zipping from the associated nuclei.