Sequence codes for extended conformation: a neighbor-dependent sequence analysis of loops in proteins.

We performed an extensive sequence analysis on the loops of proteins. By dividing a loop databank derived from the Protein Data Bank into groups, we analyzed the chemical characteristics and the sequence preferences of loops of different lengths and loops connecting different secondary structures in proteins. We found that a large population of loops in our loop databank (94.4%) is either partially or completely surface-exposed. A majority of surface loops in proteins are hydrophilic, whereas the chemical characteristics of interior loops are relatively neutral according to Eisenberg's consensus hydrophobicity scale. As a first step in investigating the intrinsic sequence-structure relationship of loop sequences in proteins, we performed a neighbor-dependent sequence analysis that calculated the effect of the neighboring amino acid type on the loop propensity of residues in loops. This method enhances the statistical significance of residue propensity, thus allowing us to explore the positional preference of amino acids in loops. Our analysis yielded a series of amino acid dyads that showed high preference for loop conformation. The data presented in this study should prove useful for developing potential codes in recognizing loop sequences in proteins.

LINKER: a program to generate linker sequences for fusion proteins.

The construction of functional fusion proteins often requires a linker sequence that adopts an extended conformation to allow for maximal flexibility. Linker sequences are generally selected based on intuition. Without a reliable selection criterion, the design of such linkers is often difficult, particularly in situations where longer linker sequences are required. Here we describe a program called LINKER which can automatically generate a set of linker sequences that are known to adopt extended conformations as determined by X-ray crystallography and NMR. The only required input to the program is the desired linker sequence length. The program is specifically designed to assist in fusion protein construction. A number of optional input parameters have been incorporated so that users are able to enhance sequence selection based on specific applications. The program output simply contains a set of sequences with a specified length. This program should be a useful tool in both the biotechnology industry and biomedical research. It can be accessed through the Web page http://www.fccc. edu/research/labs/feng/linker.html.

Deoxyribose phosphate excision by the N-terminal domain of the polymerase beta: the mechanism revisited.

DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) is one of the key enzymes in the base excision repair pathway. The amino-terminal 8 kDa domain of Pol beta has an activity for excising a 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) group from preincised apurine/apyrimidine (AP) sites. Recent biochemical studies have identified the catalytic center of the 8 kDa domain and provided new insight into the mechanism of DNA repair by DNA polymerase beta. By incorporating both structural and biochemical data, we present here a reaction mechanism for the 5'-dRP excision activity of the 8 kDa domain. This mechanism focuses on a catalytic groove near the helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) motif of the 8 kDa domain. Our model shows that the dRP group of the AP site can be stabilized in the catalytic groove through extensive interactions with the residues of the groove and be positioned close to the active center, Lys72, which catalyzes a beta-elimination reaction by forming a Schiff base with the C1' of the dRP group.