title: Carbohydrates as templates for control of distance-geometry in de novo-designed proteins.
abstract: An understanding of very complex natural systems can often only be achieved through detailed studies of systems with a reduced complexity. Thus, de novo design of proteins allows the study of fundamental forces determining protein folding and stability, as well as protein-protein interactions, by analyses of protein models of structural motifs. In addition, de novo design may lead to new biomimetic molecules with novel properties. In a synthetic approach to achieve structural economy, rigid templates, sometimes called topological scaffolds, have been used to connect secondary-structure elements, most notably alpha-helices. By positioning the helices on the template, the unfavorable entropy of protein folding is reduced. In a novel class of chimeric molecules called carboproteins, carbohydrates are used as templates for de novo design of protein models. Recently, a strategy relying on chemoselective ligation of C-terminal peptide aldehydes to tetra-aminooxy functionalized monosaccharides has provided 7-kDa 4-alpha-helix bundle carboproteins.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark. kjj@kvl.dk
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brask
mesh_terms: D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017510:Protein Folding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins