Structure of alpha-alpha-hairpins with short connections.

This paper presents the results of detailed stereochemical analysis of structures and sequences of alpha-alpha-hairpins with short connections. It is shown that alpha-alpha-hairpins of each given type have very similar patterns of hydrophobic, hydrophilic and glycine residues in their amino acid sequences. These results can be used in the prediction of alpha-alpha-hairpin conformation as well as in protein design and engineering.