Stacking interaction model

Fig. 1 The w-stack of double helical DNA. In this idealized model of B-DNA the stack of heterocyclic aromatic base pairs is distinctly visible within the sugar-phosphate backbone (schematized by ribbons) a view perpendicular to the helical axis b view down the helical axis. It is the stacking of aromatic DNA bases, approximately 3.4 A apart, that imparts the DNA with its unique ability to mediate charge transport. Base stacking interactions, and DNA charge transport, are exquisitely sensitive to the sequence-depen-dent structure and flexibility of DNA...

Fig. 2. Classes of structural models of amyloid-like fibrils. The Refolding models propose that a native protein (circle) partially or completely unfolds to attain a new fold (rectangle) in the fibril (stack of rectangles). In contrast, the Gain-of-Interaction models propose that only part of the native protein changes and takes on a new structure in the fibril. The remainder of the protein (partial circle) retains its native structure. The Natively Disordered models begin with disordered proteins or protein fragments, and these become ordered in the fibril. PolyQ refers to polyglutamine.

In summary, two different Gain-of-Interaction models have been proposed for the fibrillar structure of /12m. The cross-(3 spine model (Ivanova et al., 2004) proposes a core composed of C-terminal /1-hairpins, and the direct-stacking model (Benyamini et al., 2003) proposes a core of native-like /12m molecules with their N- and C-terminal strands displaced. 

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