Schematic illustration of the adhesive-cohesive model of protein compressibilty.   An analysis of molecular dynamics simulations of mesophilic and thermophilic homologues indicates that the variable distribution of charges between the core and surface of the respective proteins correlates with the compressibility of the protein and the native temperature of the organism from which the protein is isolated.   The variable distribution of charges across native temperatures alters the balance of cohesive and adhesive forces within the protein that changes the folding free energy profile.   Yellow arrows indicate cohesive forces within the protein that tend to keep the protein folded, while red arrows indicate adhesive forces between the protein and water.

V. M. Dadarlat and C. B. Post.
"Adhesive-cohesive model for protein compressibility: an alternative perspective on stability".
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A. (2003) 100(25): 14778-14783 Medline