Protein Tertiary and Quaternary Structures: -Myoglobin Provided Early Clues about the Complexity of Globular Protein Structure

The first breakthrough in understanding the three-dimensional structure of a globular protein came from x-ray diffraction studies of myoglobin carried out by John Kendrew and his colleagues in the 1950s. Myoglobin is a relatively small (Mr 16,700), oxygen-binding protein of muscle cells. It functions both to store oxygen and to facilitate oxygen diffusion in rap idly contracting muscle tissue. Myoglobin contains a sin gle polypeptide chain of 153 amino acid residues of known sequence and a single iron protoporphyrin, or heme, group. The same heme group is found in hemoglobin, the oxygen-binding protein of erythrocytes, and is responsible for the deep red-brown color of both myoglobin and hemoglobin. Myoglobin is particularly abundant in the muscles of diving mammals such as the whale, seal, and porpoise, whose muscles are so rich in this protein that they are brown. Storage and distribution of oxygen by muscle myoglobin permit these animals to remain submerged for long periods of time. The activities of myoglobin and other globin molecules are investigated in greater detail in Chapter 5. Figure 4–16 shows several structural representations of myoglobin, illustrating how the polypeptide chain is folded in three dimensions—its tertiary structure. The red group surrounded by protein is heme. The backbone of the myoglobin molecule is made up of eight relatively straight segments of α helix interrupted by bends, some of which are β turns. The longest helix has 23 amino acid residues and the shortest only 7; all helices are right-handed. More than 70% of the residues in myoglobin are in these -helical regions. X-ray analysis has revealed the precise position of each of the R groups, which occupy nearly all the space within the folded chain.

Many important conclusions were drawn from the structure of myoglobin. The positioning of amino acid side chains reflects a structure that derives much of its stability from hydrophobic interactions. Most of the hydrophobic R groups are in the interior of the myoglobin molecule, hidden from exposure to water. All but two of the polar R groups are located on the outer surface of the molecule, and all are hydrated. The myoglobin molecule is so compact that its interior has room for only four molecules of water. This dense hydrophobic core is typical of globular proteins. The fraction of space occupied by atoms in an organic liquid is 0.4 to 0.6; in a typical crystal the fraction is 0.70 to 0.78, near the theoretical maximum. In a globular protein the fraction is about 0.75, comparable to that in a crystal. In this packed environment, weak interactions strengthen and reinforce each other. For example, the nonpolar side chains in the core are so close together that short-range van der Waals interactions make a significant contribution to stabilizing hydrophobic interactions.

FIGURE 4–16 Tertiary structure of sperm whale myoglobin. (PDB ID 1MBO) The orientation of the protein is similar in all panels; the heme group is shown in red. In addition to illustrating the myoglobin structure, this figure provides examples of several different ways to display protein structure. (a) The polypeptide backbone, shown in a ribbon representation of a type introduced by Jane Richardson, which high lights regions of secondary structure. The -helical regions are evident. (b) A “mesh” image emphasizes the protein surface. (c) A surface contour image is useful for visualizing pockets in the protein where other molecules might bind. (d) A ribbon representation, in cluding side chains (blue) for the hydrophobic residues Leu, Ile, Val, and Phe. (e) A space-filling model with all amino acid side chains. Each atom is represented by a sphere encompassing its van der Waals radius. The hydrophobic residues are again shown in blue; most are not visible, because they are buried in the interior of the protein.

Deduction of the structure of myoglobin confirmed some expectations and introduced some new elements of secondary structure. As predicted by Pauling and Corey, all the peptide bonds are in the planar trans con figuration. The α helices in myoglobin provided the first direct experimental evidence for the existence of this type of secondary structure. Three of the four Pro residues of myoglobin are found at bends (recall that proline, with its fixed bond angle and lack of a peptide bond N-H group for participation in hydrogen

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مواضيع ذات صلة

Complementary Interactions between Proteins and Ligands: The Immune System and Immunoglobulins: -The Immune Response Features a Specialized Array of Cells and Proteins

Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins: -Sickle-Cell Anemia Is a Molecular Disease of Hemoglobin

Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins: -Oxygen Binding to Hemoglobin Is Regulated by 2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate

Protein Denaturation and Folding: - Loss of Protein Structure Results in Loss of Function

Protein Tertiary and Quaternary Structures: -There Are Limits to the Size of Proteins

Protein Tertiary and Quaternary Structures: -Protein Quaternary Structures Range from Simple Dimers to Large Complexes

Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins: -Protein-Ligand Interactions Can Be Described Quantitatively

Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins:- Myoglobin Has a Single Binding Site for Oxygen

Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins:- Oxygen Can Be Bound to a Heme Prosthetic Group

Protein Denaturation and Folding:- Some Proteins Undergo Assisted Folding

Protein Denaturation and Folding:- Polypeptides Fold Rapidly by a Stepwise Process

Protein Denaturation and Folding: - Amino Acid Sequence Determines Tertiary Structure