Mikelsaar R H, Scott J E
Molecular modelling laboratory, Tartu University, Estonia.
Glycoconj J. 1994 Apr;11(2):65-71. doi: 10.1007/BF00731145.
Electron microscopy shows that hyaluronan (HA) forms sheets and tube-like structures in solution. Molecular modelling by Tartu plastic space-filling atomic models revealed that hydroxymethyl and carboxylate groups of HA anti-parallel chains can be joined by H-bonds. Using these bonds, HA molecules can be modelled as sheets and tubules. These tertiary structures have three kinds of lateral contact: (1) antiparallel chains stacked by hydrophobic patches; (2) parallel chains joined by both stacking interactions and H-bonds; and (3) crossing chains joined by H-bonds and stacking interactions. Sheet and tubular structures may explain some viscoelastic and biological properties of HA.
电子显微镜显示，透明质酸（HA）在溶液中形成片状和管状结构。通过塔尔图塑性空间填充原子模型进行的分子建模表明，HA反平行链的羟甲基和羧基可以通过氢键连接。利用这些键，HA分子可以被模拟为片状和管状。这些三级结构有三种侧向接触方式：（1）由疏水斑块堆叠的反平行链；（2）通过堆叠相互作用和氢键连接的平行链；（3）通过氢键和堆叠相互作用连接的交叉链。片状和管状结构可能解释了HA的一些粘弹性和生物学特性。
