The path of a protein chain can be approximated by the conformation dictated by interpeptide ionic bridges

Abstract

A stereochemical simulation of the formation of ionic bridges between adjacent peptide groups along the polypeptide chain has been made. Such ionic bridges constrain the amino-acid residues into eight conformations. It is shown that the path of any protein-chain fragment 10-15 residues long can be approximated well by these conformations. This suggests that the conformations dictated by the ionic bridges can be used as blocks in the formation of the spatial proton structure. © 1992.