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De novo design, expression, and characterization of Felix: a four-helix bundle protein of native-like sequence.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hecht, MH; Richardson, JS; Richardson, DC; Ogden, RC
Published in: Science
August 24, 1990

The protein Felix was designed de novo to fold into an antiparallel four-helix bundle of specific topology. Its sequence of 79 amino acid residues is not homologous to any known protein sequence, but is "native-like" in that it is nonrepetitive and contains 19 of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids. Felix has been expressed from a synthetic gene cloned in Escherichia coli, and the protein has been purified to homogeneity. Physical characterization of the purified protein indicates that Felix (i) is monomeric in solution, (ii) is predominantly alpha-helical, (iii) contains a designed intramolecular disulfide bond linking the first and fourth helices, and (iv) buries its single tryptophan in an apolar environment and probably in close proximity with the disulfide bond. These physical properties rule out several alternative structures and indicate that Felix indeed folds into approximately the designed three-dimensional structure.

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Published In

Science

DOI

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

August 24, 1990

Volume

249

Issue

4971

Start / End Page

884 / 891

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Chemical
  • General Science & Technology
  • DNA
  • Base Sequence
 

Citation

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Hecht, M. H., Richardson, J. S., Richardson, D. C., & Ogden, R. C. (1990). De novo design, expression, and characterization of Felix: a four-helix bundle protein of native-like sequence. Science, 249(4971), 884–891. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2392678
Hecht, M. H., J. S. Richardson, D. C. Richardson, and R. C. Ogden. “De novo design, expression, and characterization of Felix: a four-helix bundle protein of native-like sequence.Science 249, no. 4971 (August 24, 1990): 884–91. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2392678.
Hecht MH, Richardson JS, Richardson DC, Ogden RC. De novo design, expression, and characterization of Felix: a four-helix bundle protein of native-like sequence. Science. 1990 Aug 24;249(4971):884–91.
Hecht, M. H., et al. “De novo design, expression, and characterization of Felix: a four-helix bundle protein of native-like sequence.Science, vol. 249, no. 4971, Aug. 1990, pp. 884–91. Pubmed, doi:10.1126/science.2392678.
Hecht MH, Richardson JS, Richardson DC, Ogden RC. De novo design, expression, and characterization of Felix: a four-helix bundle protein of native-like sequence. Science. 1990 Aug 24;249(4971):884–891.
Journal cover image

Published In

Science

DOI

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

August 24, 1990

Volume

249

Issue

4971

Start / End Page

884 / 891

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Chemical
  • General Science & Technology
  • DNA
  • Base Sequence