page_title: Alpha solenoid
hierarchical_section_title: Alpha solenoid
caption_attribution_description: English: The alpha solenoid structure of regulatory subunit A of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). The full-length protein, containing 15 helix-turn-helix HEAT repeats, is shown with the N-terminus in blue at the bottom and the C-terminus in red at the top. A single helix-turn-helix repeat is shown in the center, with the outer helix in pink, the inner helix in green, and the turn in white. Rendered using PyMol from PDB ID 2IAE. Cho US, Xu W. Crystal structure of a protein phosphatase 2A heterotrimeric holoenzyme. (2007). Nature 445, 53-57. DOI 10.1038/nature05351
context_page_description: An alpha solenoid is a protein fold composed of repeating alpha helix subunits, commonly helix-turn-helix motifs, arranged in antiparallel fashion to form a superhelix. Alpha solenoids are known for their flexibility and plasticity. Like beta propellers, alpha solenoids are a form of solenoid protein domain commonly found in the proteins comprising the nuclear pore complex. They are also common in membrane coat proteins known as coatomers, such as clathrin, and in regulatory proteins that form extensive protein-protein interactions with their binding partners. Examples of alpha solenoid structures binding RNA and lipids have also been described.
context_section_description: An alpha solenoid (sometimes also known as an alpha horseshoe or as stacked pairs of alpha helices, abbreviated SPAH) is a protein fold composed of repeating alpha helix subunits, commonly helix-turn-helix motifs, arranged in antiparallel fashion to form a superhelix. Alpha solenoids are known for their flexibility and plasticity. Like beta propellers, alpha solenoids are a form of solenoid protein domain commonly found in the proteins comprising the nuclear pore complex. They are also common in membrane coat proteins known as coatomers, such as clathrin, and in regulatory proteins that form extensive protein-protein interactions with their binding partners. Examples of alpha solenoid structures binding RNA and lipids have also been described.
caption: An example of an alpha solenoid structure composed of 15 HEAT repeats. The protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit is shown with the N-terminus in blue at bottom and the C-terminus in red at top. A single helix-turn-helix motif is shown in the center with the outer helix in pink, the inner helix in green, and the turn in white. From PDB: 2IAE​.[1]
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