Polyproline II

Src tyrosine kinase contains both an SH2 and an SH3 domain linked to a tyrosine kinase unit with a structure similar to other protein kinases. The phosphorylated form of the kinase is inactivated by binding of a phosphoty-rosine in the C-terminal tail to its own SH2 domain. In addition the linker region between the SH2 domain and the kinase is bound in a polyproline II conformation to the SH3 domain. These interactions lock regions of the active site into a nonproductive conformation. Dephosphorylation or mutation of the C-terminal tyrosine abolishes this autoinactivation. 

Each polytripeptide chain is twisted around a threefold screw axis and exists in a secondary structure, analogous to the left-handed polyproline II-helix, i.e. with transposition of the peptide bond (pitch 8.4 A, 3 amino acids) (Figs. 2,3). 

Bochicchio, B. and Tamburro, A.M., Polyproline II structure in proteins Identification by chiroptical spectroscopies, stability, and functions. Chirality, 14(10), 782-792, 2002. 

Three theory papers are also included. Determinants of the Polyproline II Helix from Modeling Studies by Creamer and Campbell reexamines and extends an earlier hypothesis about Pn and its determinants. Hydration Theory for Molecular Biophysics by Paulaitis and Pratt discusses the crucial role of water in both folded and unfolded proteins. Unfolded State of Peptides by Daura et al. focuses on the unfolded state of peptides studied primarily by molecular dynamics. 

IS POLYPROLINE II A MAJOR BACKBONE CONFORMATION IN UNFOLDED PROTEINS ... 

DETERMINANTS OF THE POLYPROLINE II HELIX FROM MODELING STUDIES... 

What is the origin of the energy difference between the polyproline II and /J-strand backbone conformations Brant and Flory (1965b) emphasize the important roles of steric clash, dipole-dipole interactions (see also Avbelj and Moult, 1995), and the torsional potentials governing rotation about the backbone ,t/i angles (see also Flory, 1969). An ab initio quantum mechanics study (Han et al., 1998 see also references therein to earlier work) finds that solvation by water is important. The authors examine the predicted stabilities of eight conformers of... 

Experimental and theoretical approaches are now converging on the polyproline II backbone conformation as the most stable structure for short alanine peptides in water. It becomes of urgent importance to determine the energy differences between polyproline II and other possible backbone conformations, as well as to determine how amino acid composition and sequence affect backbone conformation. 

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