Evaluation of interactions between residues in α-helices by exhaustive conformational search

Trevor P. Creamer, Rajgopal Srinivasan, George D. Rose

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exhaustive conformational search is a simple and practical way to explore the entire conformational space available to a peptide (or molecular segment) with fewer than a dozen rotatable bonds. This chapter discusses the exhaustive conformational searches to evaluate interactions between pairs of hydrophobic side chains in mid-helix positions and to understand the motifs adopted by glycine-terminated helices. Hydrophobic interactions between residue side chains in an α-helix are thought to be helix-stabilizing. The chapter explains that exhaustive search techniques can be used to successfully model the interactions and small motifs that are characteristic of protein structure. It has been shown that small, stabilizing interactions can occur between two hydrophobic residues at appropriate spacings in the middle positions of an α-helix, in agreement with experimental findings. The two motifs adopted by glycine-terminated helices have also been rationalized and shown to be authentic helix stop signals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)443-450
Number of pages8
JournalTechniques in Protein Chemistry
Volume6
Issue numberC
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1995

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by NIH Grant GM29458.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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