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Understanding membrane protein structure by design

Abstract

In contrast to soluble proteins, the primary interactions that specify and stabilize membrane protein structures are still largely a matter of speculation. Although van der Waals interactions have been gaining increasing favor as the dominant player, new results demonstrate the strength of hydrogen bonding in a membrane environment.

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Figure 1: The GCN4 leucine zipper.
Figure 2: Comparison of the glycophorin A transmembrane helix dimer and the GCN4-LZ dimer structures.

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Bowie, J. Understanding membrane protein structure by design. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 91–94 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/72454

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