title: The hydration of protein secondary structures.
abstract: The hydration of the main-chain carbonyl (CO) groups in proteins have been studied using infra-red spectroscopy, and computer-graphics analysis of high resolution protein crystal structures. The IR measurements indicate that the strength of water binding to the CO groups is lower in beta-sheet proteins compared with alpha-helical ones. Analysis of the protein crystal structures shows that this is due primarily to differences in the geometry of water-CO group interactions in the two types of secondary structure.
mesh_terms: D003196:Computer Graphics; D003460:Crystallization; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water