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Related Experiment Videos

Helix capping

R Aurora1, G D Rose

  • 1Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.

Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society
|March 26, 1998
PubMed
Summary
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Helix capping motifs, involving hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, stabilize alpha-helix ends. Seven distinct motifs were identified, providing rules for helix termination and linking secondary to supersecondary structure.

Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Protein science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Alpha-helices in proteins and peptides possess specific hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction patterns at their termini, known as helix-capping motifs.
  • The N-terminal and C-terminal residues of alpha-helices lack intrahelical hydrogen bonds, necessitating alternative interactions for stabilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To expand the understanding of helix-capping motifs by incorporating hydrophobic capping.
  • To identify and characterize distinct helix-capping motifs across known protein structures.
  • To establish rules for helix termination based on identified motifs and their sequence patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive survey of protein structures to identify helix-capping motifs.
  • Analysis of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions at helix termini.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Molecular modeling to investigate the principles of helix capping.

    • Main Results:

    • Seven distinct helix-capping motifs were identified: three at the N-terminus and four at the C-terminus.
    • Hydrophobic capping interactions are consistently associated with hydrogen-bonded capping at helix termini.
    • Consensus sequence patterns for each motif were determined.

    Conclusions:

    • Helix capping plays a crucial role in stabilizing helix ends and linking secondary structure to supersecondary structure.
    • The identified motifs and derived rules offer practical guidelines for predicting and designing helix termination.
    • Understanding helix capping provides insights into protein folding and stability.