The Promiscuity Of β-strand Pairing Allows For Rational Design Of β-sheetrnface Inversion

摘要

The β-sheet is a fundamental structural element in proteins, and it is being exploited as a building block of nanomaterials. A β-sheet consists of multiple β-strands that are linked by intervening segments such as turns and loops. The dominant role of the main-chain H-bonds in determining the β-sheet topology has recently emerged. Although side chains are certainly important in providing factors that control β-sheet stability, maximizing the main-chain H-bonds appears more important for determining β-strand register than side chain interactions. In other words, the main-chain edges of β-strands are naturally "sticky" and primed to zip up to form a β-sheet.