Scanning tunneling microscopy of a wheat seed storage protein reveals details of an unusual supersecondary structure.
Scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to demonstrate that a spiral structure based on beta-reverse turns is adopted by the repeat sequences present in a group of wheat gluten proteins. This structure is similar to the beta-spiral formed by a synthetic polypentapeptide based on a repeat sequence present in elastin. Wheat gluten and elastin are both elastomeric and it is possible that the spiral structure contributes to this property.
Miles
M J
MJ
Agricultural and Food Research Council, Institute of Food Research, Norwich, United Kingdom.
Carr
H J
HJ
McMaster
T C
TC
I'Anson
K J
KJ
Belton
P S
PS
Morris
V J
VJ
Field
J M
JM
Shewry
P R
PR
Tatham
A S
AS