homefeedbacksupportlog on 4-Jul-2009 

Search
All Primers
Protein Structure and Function
 
Advanced Search  
NSP Home
Primers in Biology
Cell Cycle
Immunity
Protein Structure and Function
Book information
Contents
Updates
Order the book
Online resources
Free Samples
My Account
Buy the books
Feedback
Protein Structure and Function
By Gregory A Petsko and Dagmar Ringe

Contents

Updates - 2007-2008 update now available
We have updated sections and new sections for this text - read more about these here or go straight to 2007-2008 updates on protein interactions, active transport proteins and protein phosphatases.
Contents in Brief:
Chapter 1 From Sequence to Structure
Chapter 2 From Structure to Function
Chapter 3 Control of Protein Function
Chapter 4 From Sequence to Function: Case Studies in Structural and Functional Genomics
Chapter 5 Structure Determination
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Updated References
Updates:
Active transport proteins - Revised for 2007-2008
Control by pH and redox
Enzyme kinetics
Membrane proteins
Protein folding
Protein interactions - New for 2007-2008
Protein phosphatases - Revised for 2007-2008
Secondary structure
  

Chapter 1: From Sequence to Structure [PDF]   

1-0 Overview: Protein Function and Architecture [Full Text] [PDF]
-Proteins are the most versatile macromolecules of the cell
-There are four levels of protein structure

1-1 Amino Acids [Full Text] [PDF]
-The chemical characters of the amino-acid side chains have important consequences for the way they participate in the folding and functions of proteins

1-2 Genes and Proteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-There is a linear relationship between the DNA base sequence of a gene and the amino-acid sequence of the protein it encodes
-The organization of the genetic code reflects the chemical grouping of the amino-acids

1-3 The Peptide Bond [Full Text] [PDF]
-Proteins are linear polymers of amino acids connected by amide bonds
-The properties of the peptide bond have important effects on the stability and flexibility of polypeptide chains in water

1-4 Bonds that Stabilize Folded Proteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-Folded proteins are stabilized mainly by weak noncovalent interactions
-The hydrogen-bonding properties of water have important effects on protein stability

1-5 Importance and Determinants of Secondary Structure [Full Text] [PDF]
-Folded proteins have segments of regular conformation
-The arrangement of secondary structure elements provides a convenient way of classifying types of folds
-Steric constraints dictate the possible types of secondary structure
-The simplest secondary structure element is the beta turn

1-6 Properties of the Alpha Helix [Full Text] [PDF]
-Alpha helices are versatile cylindrical structures stabilized by a network of backbone hydrogen bonds
-Alpha helices can be amphipathic, with one polar and one nonpolar face
-Collagen and polyproline helices have special properties

1-7 Properties of the Beta Sheet [Full Text] [PDF]
-Beta sheets are extended structures that sometimes form barrels
-Amphipathic beta sheets are found on the surfaces of proteins

1-8 Prediction of Secondary Structure [Full Text] [PDF]
-Certain amino acids are more usually found in alpha helices, others in beta sheets

1-9 Folding [Full Text] [PDF]
-The folded structure of a protein is directly determined by its primary structure
-Competition between self-interactions and interactions with water drives protein folding
-Computational prediction of folding is not yet reliable
-Helical membrane proteins may fold by condensation of preformed secondary structure elements in the bilayer

1-10 Tertiary Structure [Full Text] [PDF]
-The condensing of multiple secondary structural elements leads to tertiary structure
-Bound water molecules on the surface of a folded protein are an important part of the structure
-Tertiary structure is stabilized by efficient packing of atoms in the protein interior

1-11 Membrane Protein Structure [Full Text] [PDF]
-The principles governing the structures of integral membrane proteins are the same as those for water-soluble proteins and lead to formation of the same secondary structure elements

1-12 Protein Stability: Weak Interactions and Flexibility [Full Text] [PDF]
-The folded protein is a thermodynamic compromise
-Protein structure can be disrupted by a variety of agents
-The marginal stability of protein tertiary structure allows proteins to be flexible

1-13 Protein Stability: Post-Translational Modifications [Full Text] [PDF]
-Covalent bonds can add stability to tertiary structure
-Post-translational modification can alter both the tertiary structure and the stability of a protein

1-14 The Protein Domain [Full Text] [PDF]
-Globular proteins are composed of structural domains
-Domains have hydrophobic cores
-Multidomain proteins probably evolved by the fusion of genes that once coded for separate proteins

1-15 The Universe of Protein Structures [Full Text] [PDF]
-The number of protein folds is large but limited
-Protein structures are modular and proteins can be grouped into families on the basis of the domains they contain
-The modular nature of protein structure allows for sequence insertions and deletions

1-16 Protein Motifs [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein motifs may be defined by their primary sequence or by the arrangement of secondary structure elements
-Identifying motifs from sequence is not straightforward

1-17 Alpha Domains and Beta Domains [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein domains can be classified according to their secondary structural elements
-Two common motifs for alpha domains are the four-helix bundle and the globin fold
-Beta domains contain strands connected in two distinct ways
-Antiparallel beta sheets can form barrels and sandwiches

1-18 Alpha/Beta, Alpha+Beta and Cross-Linked Domains [Full Text] [PDF]
-In alpha/beta domains each strand of parallel beta sheet is usually connected to the next by an alpha helix
-There are two major families of alpha/beta domains: barrels and twists
-Alpha+beta domains have independent helical motifs packed against a beta sheet
-Metal ions and disulfide bridges form cross-links in irregular domains

1-19 Quaternary Structure: General Principles [Full Text] [PDF]
-Many proteins are composed of more than one polypeptide chain
-All specific intermolecular interactions depend on complementarity

1-20 Quaternary Structure: Intermolecular Interfaces [Full Text] [PDF]
-All types of protein-stabilizing interactions contribute to the formation of intermolecular interfaces
-Inappropriate quaternary interactions can have dramatic functional consequences

1-21 Quaternary Structure: Geometry [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein assemblies built of identical subunits are usually symmetric

1-22 Protein Flexibility [Full Text] [PDF]
-Proteins are flexible molecules
-Conformational fluctuations in domain structure tend to be local
-Protein motions involve groups of non-bonded as well as covalently bonded atoms
-Triggered conformational changes can cause large movements of side chains, loops, or domains


Updates – 2007-2008    Back to top

Active transport proteins

U1-12 Active Transport: ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters [Full Text] [PDF]
-The energy of ATP hydrolysis can be used to pump substrates across membranes
-ABC transporters transport an enormous variety of substrates
-The nucleotide-binding domain of the ABC transporters dimerizes to bind ATP
-The ABC transporters may work by a mechanism of alternating conformational states similar to that of the MFS transporters

U1-13 Active Transport: Bacterial Multidrug Resistance [Full Text] [PDF]
-Bacteria contain secondary active transporters that pump drugs out of the cell in exchange for the inward transport of protons
-In complex with substrate, AcrB is an asymmetrical trimer
-RMD proteins appear to operate by a proton-driven alternating-access mechanism


Updates – 2006-2007    Back to top

Membrane proteins

U1-6 Membrane Protein Structure and Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-Membrane proteins are essential for intercellular communication, cellular recognition, and the uptake of nutrients
-The structures of membrane proteins are slowly being determined

U1-7 Membrane Proteins: Topology [Full Text] [PDF]
-Aromatic residues in transmembrane proteins are concentrated in a belt at the interface with membrane lipid head-groups
-Alpha-helical membrane proteins are inserted into membranes in a variety of orientations

U1-8 Membrane-Associated Enzymes [Full Text] [PDF]
-The catalytic domains of most membrane-associated enzymes lie outside the lipid bilayer
-Membrane-anchored enzymes can be attached to the membrane in different ways
-Some enzymes have their catalytic domains inside the membrane bilayer

U1-9 Ion Channels: Potassium Ion Channels [Full Text] [PDF]
-Ion channels enable charged species to flow into and out of the cell across the hydrophobic lipid bilayer
-The opening of most potassium channels is rapid, selective and regulated
-Potassium channels contain a selectivity filter
-The opening and closing of ion channels is regulated in three different ways

U1-10 Pore-Forming Channel Proteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-Many neutral substances diffuse across membranes through pores
-Aquaporin pore size and polarity discriminate between water and protons
-Some pore-forming proteins are toxic to cells

U1-11 Active Transport: Major Facilitator Superfamily Transporters [Full Text] [PDF]
-Major facilitator superfamily transporters utilize ion gradients to move substrates across membranes
-MFS transporters share a common fold
-The glycerol-3-phosphate transporter uses ligand-induced conformational changes to move its substrates in opposite directions across the cell membrane
-Lactose permease transports lactose and protons together in the same direction

U1-14 Membrane Ca2+-ATPases: Overview [Full Text] [PDF]
-Intracellular calcium levels are mainly regulated by ATP-dependent calcium pumps
-The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase governs the calcium content of muscle cells
-The activity of Ca2+-ATPases is highly regulated

U1-15 Membrane Ca2+-ATPases: SERCA Structure and Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-The Ca2+-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum is the best understood ion pump
-The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase is a molecular machine driven by large conformational changes


Updates – 2004-2005    Back to top

Secondary structure

U1-1 Importance and Determinants of Secondary Structure [Full Text] [PDF]
-Folded proteins have segments of regular conformation
-The arrangement of secondary structure elements provides a convenient way of classifying types of folds
-Steric constraints dictate the possible types of secondary structure
-The simplest secondary structure element is the beta turn

U1-2 Prediction of Secondary Structure [Full Text] [PDF]
-Certain amino acids are more usually found in alpha helices, others in beta sheets

Protein folding

U1-3 Principles of Protein Folding [Full Text] [PDF]
-The folded structure of a protein is determined by its primary structure
-Competition between self-interactions and interactions with water drives protein folding
-Computational prediction of folding is not yet reliable
-Helical membrane proteins may fold by condensation of preformed secondary structure elements in the bilayer

U1-4 Chaperones and Protein Folding [Full Text] [PDF]
-The interior of the cell presents special obstacles to protein folding
-Chaperones assist folding of newly synthesized and misfolded proteins

U1-5 Protein Misfolding and Disease [Full Text] [PDF]
-The cell has several strategies for coping with misfolded proteins
-Depletion or accumulation of misfolded proteins can lead to many types of disease


Chapter 2: From Structure to Function [PDF]    Back to top

2-0 Overview: The Structural Basis of Protein Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-There are many levels of protein function
-There are four fundamental biochemical functions of proteins

2-1 Recognition, Complementarity and Active Sites [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein functions such as molecular recognition and catalysis depend on complementarity
-Molecular recognition depends on specialized microenvironments that result from protein tertiary structure
-Specialized microenvironments at binding sites contribute to catalysis

2-2 Flexibility and Protein Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-The flexibility of tertiary structure allows proteins to adapt to their ligands
-Protein flexibility is essential for biochemical function
-The degree of flexibility varies in proteins with different functions

2-3 Location of Binding Sites [Full Text] [PDF]
-Binding sites for macromolecules on a protein's surface can be concave, convex, or flat
-Binding sites for small ligands are clefts, pockets or cavities
-Catalytic sites often occur at domain and subunit interfaces

2-4 Nature of Binding Sites [Full Text] [PDF]
-Binding sites generally have a higher than average amount of exposed hydrophobic surface
-Binding sites for small molecules are usually concave and partly hydrophobic
-Weak interactions can lead to an easy exchange of partners
-Displacement of water also drives binding events
-Contributions to binding affinity can sometimes be distinguished from contributions to binding specificity

2-5 Functional Properties of Structural Proteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-Proteins as frameworks, connectors and scaffolds
-Some structural proteins only form stable assemblies
-Some catalytic proteins can also have a structural role
-Some structural proteins serve as scaffolds

2-6 Catalysis: Overview [Full Text] [PDF]
-Catalysts accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction without changing its overall equilibrium
-Catalysis usually requires more than one factor
-Catalysis is reducing the activation-energy barrier to a reaction

2-7 Active-Site Geometry [Full Text] [PDF]
-Reactive groups in enzyme active sites are optimally positioned to interact with the substrate

2-8 Proximity and Ground-State Destabilization [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some active sites chiefly promote proximity
-Some active sites destabilize ground states

2-9 Stabilization of Transition States and Exclusion of Water [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some active sites primarily stabilize transition states
-Many active sites must protect their substrates from water, but must be accessible at the same time

2-10 Redox Reactions [Full Text] [PDF]
-A relatively small number of chemical reactions account for most biological transformations
-Oxidation/reduction reactions involve the transfer of electrons and often require specific cofactors

2-11 Addition/Elimination, Hydrolysis and Decarboxylation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Addition reactions add atoms or chemical groups to double bonds, while elimination reactions remove them to form double bonds
-Esters, amides and acetals are cleaved by reaction with water; their formation requires removal of water
-Loss of carbon dioxide is a common strategy for removing a single carbon atom from a molecule

2-12 Active-Site Chemistry [Full Text] [PDF]
-Active sites promote acid-base catalysis

2-13 Cofactors [Full Text] [PDF]
-Many active sites use cofactors to assist catalysis

2-14 Multi-Step Reactions [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some active sites employ multi-step mechanisms

2-15 Multifunctional Enzymes [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some enzymes can catalyze more than one reaction
-Some bifunctional enzymes have only one active site
-Some bifunctional enzymes contain two active sites

2-16 Multifunctional Enzymes with Tunnels [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some bifunctional enzymes shuttle unstable intermediates through a tunnel connecting the active sites
-Trifunctional enzymes can shuttle intermediates over huge distances
-Some enzymes also have non-enzymatic functions


Updates – 2007-2008    Back to top

Protein interactions – Chapter 3 on Principles and Mechanisms of Protein Interactions from Cell Signaling by Lim, Mayer and Pawson

3-0 Overview: Binding Interactions between Signaling Proteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-Changes in protein binding are important for transmitting signals
-Changes in protein binding have both direct and indirect functional consequences
-Protein binding is regulated in many ways in the cell

3-1 Properties of Protein–Protein Interactions [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein binding can be mediated by broad interaction surfaces or by short, linear peptides
-Modular protein-binding and lipid-binding domains are important in signaling
-Dynamic protein assemblies that transduce signals have different properties from stable macromolecular complexes

3-2 Affinity and Specificity [Full Text] [PDF]
-The affinity and specificity of an interaction determine how likely it is to occur in the cell
-Specificity is determined by the relative affinities of competing interactions
-The likelihood of a protein interaction in a cell depends on the cellular and molecular context

3-3 The Dissociation Constant and Binding Energy [Full Text] [PDF]
-The strength of a binding interaction is defined by the dissociation constant (Kd)
-The dissociation constant is related to the binding energy of the interaction

3-4 Binding Kinetics [Full Text] [PDF]
-The dissociation constant is also related to rates of binding and unbinding
-The apparent Kd can be strongly affected by the local cellular environment and other binding partners

3-5 Tuning of Affinities and Specificities for Biological Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-Ideal affinity and specificity depends on biological function and ligand concentrations
-There are functional constraints on interaction affinities and specificities

3-6 Mechanisms for Tuning Interaction Affinity and Specificity [Full Text] [PDF]
-Affinity and specificity can be independently modulated
-Positive discrimination can increase affinity without increasing specificity
-Negative discrimination can increase specificity without increasing affinity

3-7 Cooperative Binding [Full Text] [PDF]
-A variety of experimental methods are used to detect protein–protein interactions
-Cooperativity involves the coupled binding of multiple ligands
-Diverse molecular mechanisms underlie cooperativity
-Cooperative binding has a variety of functional consequences

3-8 Mapping Protein–Protein Interactions [Full Text] [PDF]
-Interacting proteins can be identified by isolating protein complexes from cell extracts
-Binding partners can be identified by screening large libraries of genes
-Direct protein–protein interactions can be detected by solid-phase screening

3-9 Analyzing Protein–Protein Interactions in Living Cells [Full Text] [PDF]
-Interactions can be visualized and quantified in living cells
-Fluorescent protein tags are used to locate and track proteins in cells
-Protein–protein interactions can be visualized directly in living cells

3-10 Experimental Determination of Quantitative Binding Parameters [Full Text] [PDF]
-Analytical methods can determine quantitative binding parameters
-Equilibrium binding studies can be used to determine the dissociation constant
-Rates of binding and dissociation, and thermodynamic binding parameters, can be determined experimentally
-Binding parameters are important for quantitative modeling of signaling pathways


Updates – 2005-2006    Back to top

Enzyme kinetics

U2-1 Enzyme Kinetics: General Principles [Full Text] [PDF]
-Reaction rates reflect key properties of enzymes and the reactions they catalyze
-Reaction rates depend on collisions between reacting species, which in turn depend on concentrations and temperature
-Reaction kinetics are described by rate constants

U2-2 Fundamental Kinetic Properties of Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions [Full Text] [PDF]
-Vmax and Km are two key measurable properties of enzymes
-Enzyme-catalyzed reactions must involve formation of an enzyme–substrate complex, followed by one or more chemical steps
-Enzyme kinetic parameters can be determined by several analytical methods

U2-3 Analysis of Enzyme Reaction Rate Data [Full Text] [PDF]
-kcat/Km can be interpreted in terms of enzyme specificity and catalytic efficiency
-Enzyme-catalyzed reactions can have multiple steps with several intermediates
-The temperature dependence of enzyme reactions provides information about transition state energies

U2-4 Enzyme Regulation: Kinetic Consequences [Full Text] [PDF]
-Enzyme reactions can be slowed by the presence of inhibitors
-Enzyme reactions can be activated by the binding of extraneous ligands


Chapter 3: Control of Protein Function [PDF]    Back to top

3-0 Overview: Mechanisms of Regulation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function in living cells is precisely regulated
-Proteins can be targeted to specific compartments and complexes
-Protein activity can be regulated by binding of an effector and by covalent modification
-Protein activity may be regulated by protein quantity and lifetime
-A single protein may be subject to many regulatory influences

3-1 Protein Interaction Domains [Full Text] [PDF]
-The flow of information within the cell is regulated and integrated by the combinatorial use of small protein domains that recognize specific ligands

3-2 Regulation by Location [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function in the cell is context-dependent
-There are several ways of targeting proteins in cells

3-3 Control by pH and Redox Environment [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function is modulated by the environment in which the protein operates
-Changes in redox environment can greatly affect protein structure and function
-Changes in pH can drastically alter protein structure and function

3-4 Effector Ligands: Competitive Binding and Cooperativity [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function can be controlled by effector ligands that bind competitively to ligand-binding or active sites
-Cooperative binding by effector ligands amplifies their effects

3-5 Effector Ligands: Conformational Change and Allostery [Full Text] [PDF]
-Effector molecules can cause conformational changes at distant sites
-ATCase is an allosteric enzyme with regulatory and active sites on different subunits
-Disruption of function does not necessarily mean that the active site or ligand-binding site has been disrupted
-Binding of gene regulatory proteins to DNA is often controlled by ligand-induced conformational changes

3-6 Protein Switches Based on Nucleotide Hydrolysis [Full Text] [PDF]
-Conformational changes driven by nucleotide binding and hydrolysis are the basis for switching and motor properties of proteins
-All nucleotide switch proteins have some common structural and functional features

3-7 GTPase Switches: Small Signaling G Proteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-The switching cycle of nucleotide hydrolysis and exchange in G proteins is modulated by the binding of other proteins

3-8 GTPase Switches: Signal Relay by Heterotrimeric GTPases [Full Text] [PDF]
-Heterotrimeric G proteins relay and amplify extracellular signals from a receptor to an intracellular signaling pathway

3-9 GTPase Switches: Protein Synthesis [Full Text] [PDF]
-EF-Tu is activated by binding to the ribosome, which thereby signals it to release its bound tRNA

3-10 Motor Protein Switches [Full Text] [PDF]
-Myosin and kinesin are ATP-dependent nucleotide switches that move along actin filaments and microtubules respectively

3-11 Regulation by Degradation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function can be controlled by protein lifetime
-Proteins are targeted to proteasomes for degradation

3-12 Control of Protein Function by Phosphorylation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function can be controlled by covalent modification
-Phosphorylation is the most important covalent switch mechanism for the control of protein function

3-13 Regulation of Signaling Protein Kinases: Activation Mechanism [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein kinases are themselves controlled by phosphorylation
-Src kinases both activate and inhibit themselves

3-14 Regulation of Signaling Protein Kinases: Cdk Activation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Cyclin acts as an effector ligand for cyclin-dependent kinases

3-15 Two-Component Signaling Systems in Bacteria [Full Text] [PDF]
-Two-component signal carriers employ a small conformational change that is driven by covalent attachment of a phosphate group

3-16 Control by Proteolysis: Activation of Precursors [Full Text] [PDF]
-Limited proteolysis can activate enzymes
-Polypeptide hormones are produced by limited proteolysis

3-17 Protein Splicing: Autoproteolysis by Inteins [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some proteins contain self-excising inteins
-The mechanism of autocatalysis is similar for inteins from unicellular organisms and metazoan Hedgehog protein

3-18 Glycosylation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Glycosylation can change the properties of a protein and provide recognition sites

3-19 Protein Targeting by Lipid Modifications [Full Text] [PDF]
-Covalent attachment of lipids targets proteins to membranes and other proteins
-The GTPases that direct intracellular membrane traffic are reversibly associated with internal membranes of the cell

3-20 Methylation, N-acetylation, Sumoylation and Nitrosylation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Fundamental biological processes can also be regulated by other post-translational modifications of proteins


Updates – 2007-2008    Back to top

Protein phosphatases

U3-3 Protein Phosphatases: Structure and Catalytic Mechanisms [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein phosphatases fall into several groups
-Protein serine/threonine phosphatases are metalloproteins
-Protein tyrosine phosphatases function via a phosphoenzyme intermediate and include receptors as well as cytoplasmic enzymes
-Some phosphoinositide phosphatases are related to protein tyrosine phosphatases

U3-4 Protein Phosphatases: Pathways and Regulation [Full Text] [PDF]
-Phosphatases function in conjunction with protein kinases to regulate signaling


Updates – 2004-2005    Back to top

Control by pH and redox

U3-1 Control by pH [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein function is modulated by the pH of the environment in which the protein operates
-Changes in pH can drastically alter protein structure and function

U3-2 Redox Control [Full Text] [PDF]
-Changes in redox environment can greatly affect protein structure and function
-Cells have specific mechanisms to control their internal redox environment
-Redox-dependent protein modifications can regulate biological activity


Chapter 4: From Sequence to Function [PDF]    Back to top

4-0 Overview: From Sequence to Function in the Age of Genomics [Full Text] [PDF]
-Genomics is making an increasing contribution to the study of protein structure and function

4-1 Sequence Alignment and Comparison [Full Text] [PDF]
-Sequence comparison provides a measure of the relationship between genes
-Alignment is the first step in determining whether two sequences are similar to each other
-Multiple alignments and phylogenetic trees

4-2 Protein Profiling [Full Text] [PDF]
-Structural data can help sequence comparison find related proteins
-Sequence and structural motifs and patterns can identify proteins with similar biochemical functions
-Protein-family profiles can be generated from multiple alignments of protein families for which representative structures are known

4-3 Deriving Function from Sequence [Full Text] [PDF]
-Sequence information is increasing exponentially
-In some cases function can be inferred from sequence

4-4 Experimental Tools for Probing Protein Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-Gene function can sometimes be established experimentally without information from protein structure or sequence homology

4-5 Divergent and Convergent Evolution [Full Text] [PDF]
-Evolution has produced a relatively limited number of protein folds and catalytic mechanisms
-Proteins that differ in sequence and structure may have converged to similar active sites, catalytic mechanisms and biochemical function
-Proteins with low sequence similarity but very similar overall structure and active sites are likely to be homologous
-Convergent and divergent evolution are sometimes difficult to distinguish
-Divergent evolution can produce proteins with sequence and structural similarity but different functions

4-6 Structure from Sequence: Homology Modeling [Full Text] [PDF]
-Structure can be derived from sequence by reference to known protein folds and protein structures
-Homology modeling is used to deduce the structure of a sequence with reference to the structure of a close homolog

4-7 Structure from Sequence: Profile-Based Threading and "Rosetta" [Full Text] [PDF]
-Profile-based threading tries to predict the structure of a sequence even if no sequence homologs are known
-The Rosetta method attempts to predict protein structure from sequence without the aid of a homologous sequence or structure

4-8 Deducing Function from Structure: Protein Superfamilies [Full Text] [PDF]
-Members of a structural superfamily often have related biochemical functions
-The four superfamilies of serine proteases are examples of convergent evolution
-Very closely related protein families can have completely different biochemical and biological functions

4-9 Strategies for Identifying Binding Sites [Full Text] [PDF]
-Binding sites can sometimes be located in three-dimensional structures by purely computational means
-Experimental means of locating binding sites are at present more accurate than computational methods

4-10 Strategies for Identifying Catalytic Residues [Full Text] [PDF]
-Site-directed mutagenesis can identify residues involved in binding or catalysis
-Active-site residues in a structure can sometimes be recognized computationally by their geometry
-Docking programs model the binding of ligands

4-11 TIM Barrels: One Structure with Diverse Functions [Full Text] [PDF]
-Knowledge of a protein's structure does not necessarily make it possible to predict its biochemical or cellular functions

4-12 PLP Enzymes: Diverse Structures with One Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-A protein's biochemical function and catalytic mechanism do not necessarily predict its three-dimensional structure

4-13 Moonlighting: Proteins with More than One Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-In multicellular organisms, multifunctional proteins help expand the number of protein functions that can be derived from relatively small genomes

4-14 Chameleon Sequences: One Sequence with More than One Fold [Full Text] [PDF]
-Some amino-acid sequences can assume different secondary structures in different structural contexts

4-15 Prions, Amyloids and Serpins: Metastable Protein Folds [Full Text] [PDF]
-A single sequence can adopt more than one stable structure

4-16 Functions for Uncharacterized Genes: Galactonate Dehydratase [Full Text] [PDF]
-Determining biochemical function from sequence and structure becomes more accurate as more family members are identified
-Alignments based on conservation of residues that carry out the same active-site chemistry can identify more family members than sequence comparisons alone
-In well studied model organisms, information from genetics and cell biology can help identify the substrate of an "unknown" enzyme and the actual reaction catalyzed

4-17 Starting from Scratch: A Gene Product of Unknown Function [Full Text] [PDF]
-Function cannot always be determined from sequence, even with the aid of structural information and chemical intuition


Chapter 5: Structure Determination [PDF]    Back to top

5-1 The Interpretation of Structural Information [Full Text] [PDF]
-Experimentally determined protein structures are the result of the interpretation of different types of data
-Both the accuracy and the precision of a structure can vary
-The information content of a structure is determined by its resolution

5-2 Structure Determination by X-Ray Crystallography and NMR [Full Text] [PDF]
-Protein crystallography involves summing the scattered X-ray waves from a macromolecular crystal
-NMR spectroscopy involves determining internuclear distances by measuring perturbations between assigned resonances from atoms in the protein in solution

5-3 Quality and Representation of Crystal and NMR Structures [Full Text] [PDF]
-The quality of a finished structure depends largely on the amount of data collected
-Different conventions for representing the structures of proteins are useful for different purposes

Acknowledgements

Glossary [Full Text] [PDF]

Updated References [Full Text] [PDF]




© 1999-2009 New Science Press Ltd unless otherwise stated. < info@new-science-press.com >   Terms and conditions