Crystal structures of [Met5] and [(4-bromo)Phe4,Met5]enkephalins: formation of a dimeric antiparallel beta-structure

J Biochem. 1987 Feb;101(2):485-90. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a121934.

Abstract

The crystal structure of [(4-bromo)Phe4,Met5]enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-(4-bromo)-Phe-Met) shows two independent molecular conformations. The molecules are arranged in parallel in a head-to-tail fashion and form an antiparallel beta-sheet structure involving intermolecular hydrogen bonds. This dimeric beta-structure is also observed in the [Met5]enkephalin crystal, in spite of their different crystal packing environments, which shows the energetic stability of this molecular conformation. The three-dimensional similarity between the dimeric beta-structure and the beta-turn form is discussed in the relation to the opioid delta and mu receptors.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallography
  • Enkephalin, Methionine* / analogs & derivatives*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Enkephalin, Methionine
  • enkephalin-Met, 4'-bromo-Phe(4)-