Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Principles of protein–protein recognition

Abstract

The formation of the protein–protein interface by the insulin dimer, the trypsin-PTI complex and the αβ oxyhaemoghbin dimer removes 1,130–1,720 Å2 of accessible surface from contact with water. The residues forming the interface are close packed: each occupies the same volume as it does in crystals of amino acids. These results indicate that hydrophobicity is the major factor stabilising protein–protein association, while complementarity plays a selective role in deciding which proteins may associate.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Blundell, T., Dodson, G., Hodgkin, D., and Mercola, D., Adv. Protein Chem., 26, 279–402 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Huber, R., Kukla, D., Bode, W., Schwager, P., Bartels, K., Deisenhofer, J., and Steigemann, W., J. molec. Biol., 89, 73–101 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rühlmann, A., Kukla, D., Schwager, P., Bartels, K., and Huber, R., J. molec. Biol., 77, 417–436 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Perutz, M. F., Muirhead, H., Cox, J. M., and Goaman, L. C. G., Nature, 219, 131 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lee, B., and Richards, F. M., J. molec. Biol., 55, 379–400 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chothia, C. H., Nature, 248, 338–339 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chothia, C. H., Nature, 254, 304–308 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Deisenhofer, M., and Steigemann, W., Second Int. Res. Conf. Proteinase Inhibitors, (Springer, Heidelberg, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Richards, F. M., J. molec. Biol., 82, 1–14 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Doty, P., and Myers, G. E., Discussion Faraday Soc., 13, 51 (1953).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Page, M. I., and Jencks, W. P., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 68, 1678–1683 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Pekar, A. H., and Frank, B. H., Biochemistry, 11, 4013–4016 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Vincent, J. P., and Lazdunski, M., Biochemistry, 11, 2967–2977 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kellett, G. L., and Schachman, H. K., J. molec. Biol., 59, 387–399 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pauling, L., and Pressman, D., J. Am. chem. Soc., 67, 1003–1012 (1945).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kauzmann, W., Adv. Protein Chem., 14, 1–63 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schellman, J. A., C.r. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg, Serv. Chim., 29, 223–229 (1955).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Klotz, I. M., and Franzen, J. S., J. Am. chem. Soc., 84, 3461–3466 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kresheck, G. C., and Klotz, I. M., Biochemistry, 8, 8–12 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Maitland, G. C., and Smith, B. B., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2, 181–210 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hermann, R. B., J. phys. Chem., Ithaca, 76, 2754 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Reynolds, J. A., Gilbert, D. B., and Tanford, C., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71, 2925–2927 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chothia, C., Janin, J. Principles of protein–protein recognition. Nature 256, 705–708 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/256705a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/256705a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing