Evolutionary diversification of protein-protein interactions by interface add-ons.

ABSTRACT: Cells contain a multitude of protein complexes whose subunits interact with high specificity. However, the number of different protein folds and interface geometries found in nature is limited. This raises the question of how protein-protein interaction specificity is achieved on the structural level and how the formation of nonphysiological complexes is avoided. Here, we describe structural elements called interface add-ons that fulfill this function and elucidate their role for the diversification of protein-protein interactions during evolution. We identified interface add-ons in 10% of a representative set of bacterial, heteromeric protein complexes. The importance of interface add-ons for protein-protein interaction specificity is demonstrated by an exemplary experimental characteriza

SUBMITTER: Plach MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5635890 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature