Dear Colleagues,

Following their biosynthesis in the cell, proteins can fold, misfold, or stay non-folded to different degrees (i.e., be intrinsically disordered as a whole or contain intrinsically disordered regions). Although both folding and non-folding processes are associated with protein functionality, protein misfolding is linked to the pathogenesis of various diseases. There is an intricate interplay between these processes, where folded proteins can (at least partially) unfold to become functional, and where disordered proteins undergo (at least partial) induced folding during their functionality. Both ordered and intrinsically disordered proteins can misfold, and due to the action of the cellular proteostasis machinery, misfolded proteins can recover their original folded or intrinsically disordered states. Furthermore, protein functionality and misfolding are intimately linked to the protein assembly, where various functional and pathological complexes are formed. This Special Issue is dedicated to various aspects of protein folding, misfolding, non-folding, and assembly and will consider studies focused on the characterization of these processes and the roles of their interplay in maintaining the cellular proteostasis. Original experimental, computational and theoretical studies are welcomed, together with reviews, comments and opinions.

Prof. Vladimir N. Uversky

Guest Editor