Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1996-10-23
pubmed:abstractText
Protein structures generally consist of favorable folding motifs formed by specific arrangements of secondary structure elements. Similar architectures can be adopted by different amino acids sequences, although the details of the structures vary. It has long been known that despite the sequence variability, there is a striking preferential conservation of the hydrophobic character of the amino acids at the buried positions of these folding motifs. Differences in the sizes of the side-chains are accommodated by movements of the secondary structure elements with respect to each other, leading to compact packing. Scanning protein-protein interfaces reveals that similar architectures are also observed at and around their interacting surfaces, with preservation of the hydrophobic character, although not to the same extent. The general forces that determine the origin of the native structures of proteins have been investigated intensively. The major non-bonded forces operating on a protein chain as it folds into a three-dimensional structure are likely to be packing, the hydrophobic effect, and electrostatic interactions. While the substantial hydrophobic forces lead to a compact conformation, they are also nonspecific and cannot serve as a guide to a conformationally unique structure. For the general folding problem, it thus appears that packing is a prime candidate for determining a particular fold. Specific hydrogen-bonding patterns and salt-bridges have also been proposed to play a role. Inspection of protein-protein interfaces reveals that the hallmarks governing single chain protein structures also determine their interactions, suggesting that similar principles underlie protein folding and protein-protein associations. This review focuses on some aspects of protein-protein interfaces, particularly on the architectures and their interactions. These are compared with those present in protein monomers. This task is facilitated by the recently compiled, non-redundant structural dataset of protein-protein interfaces derived from the crystallographic database. In particular, although current view holds that protein-protein interfaces and interactions are similar to those found in the conformations of single-chain proteins, this review brings forth the differences as well. Not only is it logical that such differences would exist, it is these differences that further illuminate protein folding on the one hand and protein-protein recognition on the other. These are also particularly important in considering inhibitor (ligand) design.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1040-9238
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
127-52
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Protein-protein interfaces: architectures and interactions in protein-protein interfaces and in protein cores. Their similarities and differences.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory of Mathematical Biology, NCI-FCRDC, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't