The three-dimensional structure of the dimeric transmembrane domain of glycophorin A (GpA) was determined by solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a 40-residue peptide solubilized in aqueous detergent micelles. The GpA membrane-spanning ...
The three-dimensional structure of the dimeric transmembrane domain of glycophorin A (GpA) was determined by solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a 40-residue peptide solubilized in aqueous detergent micelles. The GpA membrane-spanning alpha helices cross at an angle of -40 degrees and form a small but well-packed interface that lacks intermonomer hydrogen bonds. The structure provides an explanation for the previously characterized sequence dependence of GpA dimerization and demonstrates that van der Waals interactions alone can mediate stable and specific associations between transmembrane helices.
Related Citations: 
Leucine Side-Chain Rotamers in a Glycophorin a Transmembrane Peptide as Revealed by Three-Bond Carbon-Carbon Couplings and 13C Chemical Shifts Mackenzie, K.R.,Prestegard, J.H.,Engelman, D.M. (1996) J.Biomol.NMR 7: 256
Structure Determination of the Dimeric Membrane Spanning Domain of Glycophorin a in Detergent Micelles by Triple Resonance Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Mackenzie, K.R. (1996) Thesis, Yale University --: --
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA.