The role of β-sheets in the structure and assembly of keratins.

ABSTRACT: X-ray diffraction, infrared and electron microscope studies of avian and reptilian keratins, and of stretched wool and hair, have played a central role in the development of models for the β-conformation in proteins. Both α- and β-keratins contain sequences that are predicted to adopt a β-conformation and these are believed to play an important part in the assembly of the filaments and in determining their mechanical properties. Interactions between the small β-sheets in keratins provide a simple mechanism through which shape and chemical complementarity can mediate the assembly of molecules into highly specific structures. Interacting β-sheets in crystalline proteins are often related to one another by diad symmetry and the data available on feather keratin suggest that the filament is as

SUBMITTER: Fraser RDB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5387848 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature