De NovoDesign of Helical Bundles as Models for Understanding Protein Folding and Function

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Abstract
De novo protein design has proven to be a powerful tool for understanding protein folding, structure, and function. In this Account, we highlight aspects of our research on the design of dimeric, four-helix bundles. Dimeric, four-helix bundles are found throughout nature, and the history of their design in our laboratory illustrates our hierarchic approach to protein design. This approach has been successfully applied to create a completely native-like protein. Structural and mutational analysis allowed us to explore the determinants of native protein structure. These determinants were then applied to the design of a dinuclear metal-binding protein that can now serve as a model for this important class of proteins.