Pseudosymmetry in the structure of myohemerythrin.

The three-dimensional structure of the protein myohemerythrin from retractor muscles of the sipunculan worn Themiste zostericola has been explored for the existance of approximately symmetry operators that locally interrelate portions of the molecule. First, the electron denisty distribution at 5.5 A resolution was examined. A local 2-fold axis that transposes the C-D helix pair into the A-B helix pair was found and refined by the method of least squares. The match in electron densities for a pure 2-fold rotation had a correlation coefficient of 0.56. Next, a comprehensive search was made for rotational symmetry in the Patterson function of an isolated molecule. The rotation function based on data to 6 A spacings showed a major peak, 72% of the self-peak height, that confirmed the result from electron density correlations. In addition, a pattern of lower level peaks revealed approximate point group symmetry as high as D4. Finally, the amino acid sequence has been inspected for evidence of a repeated structure. The level of amino acid identities between positions in the A-B and C-D helix pairs is 28%. Several factors are discussed to suggest that this homology, although low, is nonetheless significant.