Infrared study of the folding mechanism of a helical hairpin: porcine PYY.

ABSTRACT: The helical hairpin motif plays a key role as a receptor site in DNA binding and protein-protein interactions. Thus, various helical hairpins have recently been developed to assess the factors that control the DNA and/or protein binding affinities of this structural motif and to form synthetic templates for protein and drug design. In addition, several lines of evidence suggest that rapid acquisition of a helical hairpin structure from the unfolded ensemble may guide the rapid formation of helical proteins. Despite its importance as a crucial structural element in protein folding and binding, the folding mechanism of the helical hairpin motif has not been thoroughly studied. Herein, we investigate the structural determinants of the folding kinetics of a naturally occurring helical hairpin

SUBMITTER: Waegele MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2949066 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature