Gamma helix


Gamma helix is a type of secondary structure in proteins that has been predicted by Pauling, Corey, and Branson, but has never been observed in natural proteins. The hydrogen bond in this type of helix was predicted to be between N-H group of one amino acid and the C=O group of the amino acid six residues earlier. This can also be described as i + 6 → i bond and would be a continuation of the series. This theoretical helix contains 5.1 residues per turn. However, a fully developed gamma helix has characteristics of a structure that has 2.2 amino acid residues per turn, a rise of 2.75Å per residue, and a pseudo-cyclic structure closed by intramolecular H-bond. Depending on the amino acid's side chain involved in this main-chain reversal motif, two stereoisomers can occur with their Cα-substituent located either in the axial or in the equatorial position relative to the H-bonded pseudo-cycle'''.'''