title: A one-variable topographical descriptor for the beta-turns of peptides and proteins.
abstract: The beta-turn is a common secondary structure in biologically active peptides and globular proteins, where it is widely thought to serve as a molecular recognition site for many biological processes. Although the primary beta-turn recognition requirements are thought to be straightforward, relating mainly to the relative positions of the peptide sidechains, current classifications of beta-turns are complex and are based solely upon the very variable geometry of the peptide backbone. We demonstrate here that beta-turns can be described in terms of a single dihedral angle, which we have called beta, which provides a complete description of the spatial relationship between the entry and exit peptide bonds as well as the relative orientations of the intervening sidechains for any beta-turn. This description should prove particularly useful in the development and application of novel peptide mimetic drugs, compounds for which a classification based on a peptide backbone geometry may be entirely irrelevant.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Victorian College of Pharmacy Ltd., Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Alewood
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins