The packing of α-helices: simple coiled-coils
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It is shown in this paper by Crick that when -helices of the same sense pack together they will probably do so about 20° away from parallel. For very long chains this may lead to a coiled-coil. The two simplest models - the two-strand rope and the three-strand rope - are described, and used to illustrate the diffraction theory already developed. It is shown that they would give a diffuse -pattern. Possible examples of these models are briefly discussed.
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Coiled-coil packing is supported by sequence repeats of hydrophobic and polar residues, usually in heptad repeats hpphppp, often denoted in the form of an abcdefg register.
“This packing arrangement is supported by sequence repeats of hydrophobic (h) and polar (p) residues,3 usually in heptad repeats hpphppp, often denoted in the form of an abcdefg register.”
From Assessment of the Topology and Oligomerisation States of Coiled Coils Using Metadynamics with Conformational Restraints (2025) · cites this paper as [3]
Coiled-coil assemblies possess knobs-into-holes packing, where a side chain from one helix packs into a diamond-shaped cavity formed by four side chains in a different helix of the bundle.
“The assemblies possess a distinctive type of packing termed knobs-into-holes (KIH), where a side chain from one helix (“knob”) packs into a diamond-shaped cavity (“hole”) formed by four side chains in a different helix of the bundle.3”
From Assessment of the Topology and Oligomerisation States of Coiled Coils Using Metadynamics with Conformational Restraints (2025) · cites this paper as [3]
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“3 This distinguishes coiled coils from other helical bundles, which are characterized by less intimate packing.”
- Authors
- Crick, F. H. C.
- Affiliations
- Medical Research Council (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Crick, F. H. C.
- Venue
- Acta Crystallographica
- Published
- 1953-09-10
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 689-697
- ISSN
- 0365-110X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2116441099
- Cited by
- 1,578
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 2.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Acta Crystallographica (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Enzyme Structure and Function
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Crystallography and molecular interactions
- Keywords
- alpha-helix, coiled coil, helix packing, X-ray diffraction patterns, diffuse scattering, protein structure
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