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In recent host-guest studies, the helix-forming tendencies of amino acid residues have been quantified by three groups, each obtaining similar results Padmanabhan, S., Marqusee, S., Ridgeway, T., Laue, T. M. O'Neil, K. T. Lyu, P. C., Liff, M. I., Marky, L. A. Ala is neutral, and all remaining residues are unfavorable to varying degrees. Thus, applied to side chains, the term "helix preference" is a misnomer. While side chain-side chain interactions may modulate stability in some instances, our results indicate that the drive to form helices must originate in the backbone, consistent with Pauling's view of four decades ago [Pauling, L., Corey, R. B. & Branson, H. R. (1951) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 37, 205-210.
Creamer et al. (Wed,) studied this question.