An inverse correlation between loop length and stability in a four-helix-bundle protein
An inverse correlation between loop length and stability in a four-helix-bundle protein
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DOI:
10.1016/s1359-0278(97)00007-2
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发表时间:
1997-01-01
期刊:
影响因子:
--
通讯作者:
Regan, L
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Nagi, AD;Regan, L
Background: The loops in proteins are less well characterized than the secondary structural elements that they connect. We have used the four-helix-bundle protein Rop as a model system in which to explore the role of loop length in protein folding and stability.Results: A natural two-residue loop was replaced with a series of glycine linkers up to 10 residues in length. All 10 mutants are highly helical dimers that retain wild-type RNA-binding activity. As loop length is increased, the stability of Rop toward thermal and chemical denaturation is progressively decreased.Conclusions: All the mutants assume a wild-type-like structure, which suggests that the natural loop does not actively dictate the final protein fold. The strong inverse correlation observed between loop length and stability is well described by a simple polymer model in which the entropy of loop closure is the dominant energetic term. Our results emphasize the importance of optimization of loop length to successful protein design.