Detection of a hidden folding intermediate in the focal adhesion target domain: Implications for its function and folding.

The focal adhesion target (FAT) domain of focal adhesion kinase has a four-helix bundle structure. Based on a hydrogen exchange-constrained computer simulation study and some indirect experimental results, it has been suggested that a partially unfolded state of the FAT domain with the N-terminal helix unfolded plays an important role in its biological function. Here, using a native-state hydrogen exchange method, we directly detected an intermediate with the N-terminal helix unfolded in a mutant (Y925E) of the FAT domain. In addition, kinetic folding studies on the FAT domain suggest that this intermediate exists on the native side of the rate-limiting transition state for folding. These results provide more direct evidence of the existence of the proposed intermediate and help to understand the folding mechanism of small single domain proteins.