Blundell T L, Srinivasan N
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Dec 10;93(25):14243-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.25.14243.
Symmetry is commonly observed in many biological systems. Here we discuss representative examples of the role of symmetry in structural molecular biology. Point group symmetries are observed in many protein oligomers whose three-dimensional atomic structures have been elucidated by x-ray crystallography. Approximate symmetry also occurs in multidomain proteins. Symmetry often confers stability on the molecular system and results in economical usage of basic components to build the macromolecular structure. Symmetry is also associated with cooperativity. Mild perturbation from perfect symmetry may be essential in some systems for dynamic functions.
对称性在许多生物系统中普遍存在。在此,我们讨论对称性在结构分子生物学中作用的代表性例子。在许多蛋白质寡聚体中观察到点群对称性,其三维原子结构已通过X射线晶体学阐明。多结构域蛋白质中也存在近似对称性。对称性通常赋予分子系统稳定性,并导致构建大分子结构时基本组件的经济使用。对称性还与协同性相关。在某些系统中,对于动态功能而言,与完美对称性的轻微偏差可能至关重要。