Left-handed topology of super-secondary structure formed by aligned alpha-helix and beta-hairpin

FEBS Lett. 1992 May 4;302(1):8-10. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(92)80271-h.

Abstract

A novel super-secondary structure common for many non-homological proteins is considered. This folding pattern, consisting of adjacent along the chain alpha-helix and beta-hairpin, has an aligned packing. It is found that one of the two possible 'mirror-symmetrical' topologies is observed in proteins. The alpha-helix + beta-hairpin structures have a similar pattern of hydrophobic residues in their amino acid sequences. The remaining part of a molecule or a domain is almost always located on the same side of the considered folding pattern. These results can be used in the prediction of three-dimensional protein structure and protein design.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Sequence Alignment