Analysis and prediction of inter-strand packing distances between beta-sheets of globular proteins

Any two beta-strands belonging to two different beta-sheets in a protein structure are considered to pack interactively if each beta-strand has at least one residue that undergoes a loss of one tenth or more of its solvent contact surface area upon packing. A data set of protein 3-D structures (determined at 2.5 A resolution or better), corresponding to 428 protein chains, contains 1986 non-identical pairs of beta-strands involved in interactive packing. The inter-axial distance between these is significantly correlated to the weighted sum of the volumes of the interacting residues at the packing interface. This correlation can be used to predict the changes in the inter-sheet distances in equivalent beta-sheets in homologous proteins and, therefore, is of value in comparative modelling of proteins.