Protein topology is a property of protein molecule that does not change under deformation (without cutting or breaking a bond).
Frameworks
Two main topology frameworks have been developed and applied to protein molecules.
Knot Theory
Knot theory
In the mathematical field of topology, knot theory is the study of mathematical knots. While inspired by knots which appear in daily life, such as those in shoelaces and rope, a mathematical knot differs in that the ends are joined so it cannot ...
which categorises chain entanglements. The usage of knot theory is limited to a small percentage of proteins as most of them are unknot.
Circuit topology
Circuit topology categorises intra-chain contacts based on their arrangements.
Other Uses
In biology literature, the term topology is also used to refer to mutual orientation of regular
secondary structures
Secondary may refer to: Science and nature
* Secondary emission, of particles
** Secondary electrons, electrons generated as ionization products
* The secondary winding, or the electrical or electronic circuit connected to the secondary winding i ...
, such as
alpha-helices
The alpha helix (α-helix) is a common motif in the secondary structure of proteins and is a right hand-helix conformation in which every backbone N−H group hydrogen bonds to the backbone C=O group of the amino acid located four residues earli ...
and
beta strand
The beta sheet, (β-sheet) (also β-pleated sheet) is a common motif of the regular protein secondary structure. Beta sheets consist of beta strands (β-strands) connected laterally by at least two or three backbone hydrogen bonds, forming a gen ...
s in
protein structure
Protein structure is the molecular geometry, three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in an amino acid-chain molecule. Proteins are polymers specifically polypeptides formed from sequences of amino acids, the monomers of the polymer. A single ami ...
For example, two adjacent interacting alpha-helices or beta-strands can go in the same or in opposite directions. Topology diagrams of different proteins with known three-dimensional structure are provided by PDBsum
PDBsum is a database that provides an overview of the contents of each 3D macromolecular structure deposited in the Protein Data Bank. The original version of the database was developed around 1995 by Roman Laskowski and collaborators at Unive ...
an example
.
See also
* Circuit topology
* Membrane topology
Topology of a transmembrane protein refers to locations of N- and C-termini of membrane-spanning polypeptide chain with respect to the inner or outer sides of the biological membrane occupied by the protein.
Several databases provide experimenta ...
* Protein folding
Protein folding is the physical process by which a protein chain is translated to its native three-dimensional structure, typically a "folded" conformation by which the protein becomes biologically functional. Via an expeditious and reprodu ...
References
External links
Pro-origami: Protein structure cartoonsTOPS services at Glasgow UniversityPTGL
Protein structure
Molecular topology
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