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Secondary Structure In Transmembrane Protein

Hi all,

According to you, can a transmembrane segment of a TM protein have each of the 3 states (H,E,C) of secondary structure? I mean, could alpha helix, beta strand or coil be found in the transmembrane segments of a TM protein, or are any of these states forbidden?

Thanks

protein secondary
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updated by Lars Juhl Jensen Lars Juhl Jensen • written by Elisa • Elisa

1 answer

The vast majority of transmembrane segments are helices, that is transmembrane helices. There is also a smaller number of transmembrane proteins that have a beta barrel structure, most notably the porins. I have never heard of transmembrane segments with coil structure, and from a biophysical perspective I find it difficult to imagine that they exist.

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written by Lars Juhl Jensen Lars Juhl Jensen

It seems that due to the environment, only helices are stable in that situation

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written by Flow Flow

I am sorry, but you are wrong. Like I wrote, there are transmembrane proteins with a beta barrel structure. In these, the transmembrane segments have extended sheet conformation.

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written by Lars Juhl Jensen Lars Juhl Jensen

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