Dihydrofolate Reductase - Structure

Structure

A central eight-stranded beta-pleated sheet makes up the main feature of the polypeptide backbone folding of DHFR. Seven of these strands are parallel and the eighth runs antiparallel. Four alpha helices connect successive beta strands. Residues 9 – 24 are termed “Met20” or “loop 1” and, along with other loops, are part of the major subdomain that surround the active site. The active site is situated in the N-terminal half of the sequence, which includes a conserved Pro-Trp dipeptide; the tryptophan has been shown to be involved in the binding of substrate by the enzyme.

Human DHFR with bound dihydrofolate and NADPH

Read more about this topic:  Dihydrofolate Reductase

Famous quotes containing the word structure:

    A structure becomes architectural, and not sculptural, when its elements no longer have their justification in nature.
    Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918)

    The question is still asked of women: “How do you propose to answer the need for child care?” That is an obvious attempt to structure conflict in the old terms. The questions are rather: “If we as a human community want children, how does the total society propose to provide for them?”
    Jean Baker Miller (20th century)

    One theme links together these new proposals for family policy—the idea that the family is exceedingly durable. Changes in structure and function and individual roles are not to be confused with the collapse of the family. Families remain more important in the lives of children than other institutions. Family ties are stronger and more vital than many of us imagine in the perennial atmosphere of crisis surrounding the subject.
    Joseph Featherstone (20th century)