The x-ray crystal structure of a peptide corresponding to the leucine zipper of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 has been determined at 1.8 angstrom resolution. The peptide forms a parallel, two-stranded coiled coil of alpha helices packed as in the "knobs-into-holes" model proposed by Crick in 1953 ...
The x-ray crystal structure of a peptide corresponding to the leucine zipper of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 has been determined at 1.8 angstrom resolution. The peptide forms a parallel, two-stranded coiled coil of alpha helices packed as in the "knobs-into-holes" model proposed by Crick in 1953. Contacts between the helices include ion pairs and an extensive hydrophobic interface that contains a distinctive hydrogen bond. The conserved leucines, like the residues in the alternate hydrophobic repeat, make side-to-side interactions (as in a handshake) in every other layer of the dimer interface. The crystal structure of the GCN4 leucine zipper suggests a key role for the leucine repeat, but also shows how other features of the coiled coil contribute to dimer formation.
Related Citations:
X-Ray Scattering Indicates that the Leucine Zipper is a Coiled Coil Rasmussen, R., Benvegnu, D., O'Shea, E.K., Kim, P.S., Alber, T. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 88: 561
Evidence that the Leucine Zipper is a Coiled Coil O'Shea, E.K., Rutkowski, R., Kim, P.S. (1989) Science 243: 538
Organizational Affiliation:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142.
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