title: Coiled coils: a highly versatile protein folding motif.
abstract: The alpha-helical coiled coil is one of the principal subunit oligomerization motifs in proteins. Its most characteristic feature is a heptad repeat pattern of primarily apolar residues that constitute the oligomer interface. Despite its simplicity, it is a highly versatile folding motif: coiled-coil-containing proteins exhibit a broad range of different functions related to the specific 'design' of their coiled-coil domains. The architecture of a particular coiled-coil domain determines its oligomerization state, rigidity and ability to function as a molecular recognition system. Much progress has been made towards understanding the factors that determine coiled-coil formation and stability. Here we discuss this highly versatile protein folding and oligomerization motif with regard to its structural architecture and how this is related to its biological functions.
authors.affiliation: M.E. Müller Institute for Structural Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, 4056, Basel, Switzerland. peter.burkhard@unibas.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burkhard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stetefeld
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Strelkov
mesh_terms: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017510:Protein Folding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000502:physiology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins