Proline‐induced constraints in α‐helices

Abstract The disrupting effect of a prolyl residue on an α‐helix has been analyzed by means of conformational energy computations. In the preferred, nearly α‐helical conformations of Ac‐Ala 4 ‐Pro‐NHMe and of Ac‐Ala 7 ‐Pro‐Ala 7 ‐NHMe, only the residue preceding Pro is not α‐helical, while all other residues can occur in the α‐helical A conformation; i.e., it is sufficient to introduce a conformational change of only one residue in order to accommodate proline in a distorted α‐helix. Other low‐energy conformations exist in which the conformational state of three residues preceding proline is altered considerably; on the other hand, another conformation in which these three residues retain the near‐α‐helical A‐conformational state (with up to 26° changes of their dihedral angles ϕ and ψ, and a 48° change in one ω from those of the ideal α‐helix) has a considerably higher energy. These conclusions are not altered by the substitution of other residues in the place of the Ala preceding Pro. The conformations of the peptide chain next to prolyl residues in or near an α‐helix have been analyzed in 58 proteins of known structure, based on published atomic coordinates. Of 331 α‐helices, 61 have a Pro at or next to their N‐terminus, 21 have a Pro next to their C‐terminus, and 30 contain a Pro inside the helix. Of the latter, 16 correspond to a break in the helix, 9 are located inside distorted first turns of the helix, and 5 are parts of irregular helices. Thus, the reported occurrence of prolyl residues next to or inside observed α‐helices in proteins is consistent with the computed steric and energetic requirements of prolyl peptides.