title: Do G protein subunits associate via a three-stranded coiled coil?
abstract: We used a computer-based prediction algorithm to identify probable coiled-coil segments at the N-termini of G protein alpha, beta and gamma subunits. This result indicates that G protein trimers may form via a three-stranded coiled coil. Previous biochemical results had shown that the N-termini of alpha and beta are involved in subunit interactions. Here we present a structural model for the N-terminal domain of beta gamma and a hypothesis for the reversible association of alpha to beta gamma.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Lupas
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lupas
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D015293:Transducin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D015293:Transducin