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
The circuit topology of a folded linear polymer refers to the arrangement of its intra-molecular contacts. Examples of linear polymers with intra-molecular contacts are nucleic acids and proteins. Proteins fold via formation of contacts of vari ...
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, 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 ea ...
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 ge ...
s in
protein structure
Protein structure is the 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 amino acid monomer ma ...
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 Univers ...
an example
.
See also
* Circuit topology
The circuit topology of a folded linear polymer refers to the arrangement of its intra-molecular contacts. Examples of linear polymers with intra-molecular contacts are nucleic acids and proteins. Proteins fold via formation of contacts of vari ...
* 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 reproduc ...
References
External links
Pro-origami: Protein structure cartoonsTOPS services at Glasgow UniversityPTGL
Protein structure
Molecular topology
{{Protein-stub