Iterative assembly of helical proteins by optimal hydrophobic packing.

ABSTRACT: We present a method for the computer-based iterative assembly of native-like tertiary structures of helical proteins from alpha-helical fragments. For any pair of helices, our method, called MATCHSTIX, first generates an ensemble of possible relative orientations of the helices with various ways to form hydrophobic contacts between them. Those conformations having steric clashes, or a large radius of gyration of hydrophobic residues, or with helices too far separated to be connected by the intervening linking region, are discarded. Then, we attempt to connect the two helical fragments by using a robotics-based loop-closure algorithm. When loop closure is feasible, the algorithm generates an ensemble of viable interconnecting loops. After energy minimization and clustering, we use a represe

SUBMITTER: Wu GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2629734 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature