The rate of protein association places an upper limit on the response time due to protein
interactions, which, under certain circumstances, can be diffusion-controlled. Simulations of
model proteins show that diffusion-limited association rates are approximately 10 (6)-10 (7)
M-1 s-1 in the absence of long-range forces (Northrup, SH, and HP Erickson. 1992. Kinetics
of protein-protein association explained by Brownian dynamics computer simulations. Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 3338–3342). The measured association rates of barnase and …

The rate ofprotein association places an upperlimit on the response time due to protein
interactions, which, under certain circumstances, can be diffusion-controlled. Simulations of
model proteins show that diffusion-limited associ-ation rates are-106_107 M-1 S-1 in the
absence oflong-range forces (Northrup, SH, and HP Erickson. 1992. Kinetics of protein-
protein association explained by Brownian dynamics computer simulations. Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 89: 3338-3342). The measured association rates of barnaseand barstar are …