The crystal structure of the calcium-bound con-G[Q6A] peptide reveals a novel metal-dependent helical trimer
Journal Article
·
· J. Biol. Inorg. Chem.
- MSU
The ability to form and control both secondary structure and oligomerization in short peptides has proven to be challenging owing to the structural instability of such peptides. The conantokin peptides are a family of {gamma}-carboxyglutamic acid containing peptides produced in the venoms of predatory sea snails of the Conus family. They are examples of short peptides that form stable helical structures, especially in the presence of divalent cations. Both monomeric and dimeric conantokin peptides have been identified and represent a new mechanism of helix association, 'the metallozipper motif' that is devoid of a hydrophobic interface between monomers. In the present study, a parallel/antiparallel three-helix bundle was identified and its crystal structure determined at high resolution. The three helices are almost perfectly parallel and represent a novel helix-helix association. The trimer interface is dominated by metal chelation between the three helices, and contains no interfacial hydrophobic interactions. It is now possible to produce stable monomeric, dimeric, or trimeric metallozippers depending on the peptide sequence and metal ion. Such structures have important applications in protein design.
- Research Organization:
- Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- NIHOTHER U.S. STATES
- OSTI ID:
- 1031941
- Journal Information:
- J. Biol. Inorg. Chem., Journal Name: J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. Journal Issue: (2) ; 2011 Vol. 16
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
Similar Records
A switch from parallel to antiparallel strand orientation in a coiled-coil X-ray structure via two core hydrophobic mutations
High thermodynamic stability of parametrically designed helical bundles
Journal Article
·
Tue May 05 20:00:00 EDT 2015
· Biopolymers
·
OSTI ID:1188828
High thermodynamic stability of parametrically designed helical bundles
Journal Article
·
Thu Oct 23 20:00:00 EDT 2014
· Science
·
OSTI ID:1344926