MODELING OF INTERHELICAL CONTACTS IN INTERFERON-BETA, INTERFERON-GAMMA, AND DIMERIC INTERLEUKIN-5

On the basis of crystallographic data, the alpha-helices of interferon -beta as well as each domain of interferon-gamma are located in two la yers. This results in a different contribution from the amino acids pl acing in the middle and border alpha-helices of the layer to the hydro phobic core of the molecule. A close analysis of the structure of dime ric interleukin-5 shows related arrangements of alpha-helices. The ful l schemes of the interhelix contacts of interferons-beta, -gamma, and dimeric interleukin-5 were constructed. Schemes for interleukin-5 show that extension of helices correlates with the dimer topology. (C) 199 4 Academic Press, Inc.