Coiled-coils in α-helix-containing proteins: analysis of the residue types within the heptad repeat and the use of these data in the prediction of coiled-coils in other proteins

Abstract

Portions of the amino acid sequences of 4 representative proteins containing .alpha.-helixes arranged in a coiled-coil rope-like structure were analyzed in terms of the preference of the residues or residue types for specific positions within the observed heptad repeats. The results clearly show and asymmetric distribution of residues which can be interpreted in terms of the size and shape of the residue, the geometry of the coiled-coil structure, or the facility with which interchain or intermolecular interactions may be made. The statistical data reported here may also be used to predict regions of coiled-coil structure in other proteins.