Scanning tunneling microscopy of a wheat seed storage protein reveals details of an unusual supersecondary structure.

Miles, M J; Carr, H J; McMaster, T C; I'Anson, K J; Belton, P S; Morris, V J; Field, J M; Shewry, P R et al. · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 1991

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to demonstrate that a spiral structure based on beta-reverse turns is adopted by the repeat sequences present in a group of wheat gluten proteins. This structure is similar to the beta-spiral formed by a synthetic polypentapeptide based on a repeat sequence present in elastin. Wheat gluten and elastin are both elastomeric and it is possible that the spiral structure contributes to this property.