International Tables for Crystallography

Access to online content requires a licence


You have followed a link to material from the 2012 edition of International Tables for Crystallography Volume F. If you would like to update your licence to include this material please contact support@iucr.org. If you have a licence for the 2006 edition of this volume please follow the link below to access material from it:

International Tables for Crystallography (2006). Vol. F, ch22.2
Hydrogen bonding in biological macromolecules
E. N. Baker. International Tables for Crystallography (2012). Vol. F, ch. 22.3, pp. 721-729  [ doi:10.1107/97809553602060000887 ]

Abstract

Hydrogen bonds are weak non-covalent interactions, but their directional nature and the large number of hydrogen-bonding groups mean that they play a critical role in the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids. Analyses of three-dimensional structures, particularly of proteins, reveal many consistent patterns, which are described in this review. Protein structures show almost complete saturation of hydrogen-bonding potential. Helices, β-strands, β-turns and γ-turns all show characteristic C=O···HN geometries, with helices having a variety of termination patterns. Local interactions are very common for main-chain···side-chain hydrogen bonds and may help direct protein folding. Non-local interactions, although fewer in number, can be very important for structural stability, and bound water molecules, because of their double-donor, double-acceptor capability, can play critical roles in satisfying overall hydrogen-bonding requirements. Finally, there is also a growing realization that non-conventional hydrogen bonds may play a more important role than hitherto recognized.


Access, prices and ordering

International Tables for Crystallography is available online as a full set of volumes through Wiley.

set

If you have already registered and are using a computer listed in your registration details, please email support@iucr.org for assistance.

About International Tables for Crystallography

International Tables for Crystallography is the definitive resource and reference work for crystallography. The multi-volume series comprises articles and tables of data relevant to crystallographic research and to applications of crystallographic methods in all sciences concerned with the structure and properties of materials.