Knobs into holes packing

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Where it occurs:

This is a protein packing motif that occurs mainly in alpha helix or coiled coil domains.

Why it occurs:

This motif occurs in coiled coil motifs to maintain and reach a 20 degree "left hand crossing angle that is characteristic of coiled coils"

What it looks like:

This motif looks much like two springs slammed together.

Further Reading:

1. http://www.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/PPS95/course/6_super_sec/cc.html

2. http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/92/9/3302

3. http://www.bijvoet-center.nl/school/seminars/Archive/2006/Smith/

Sources:

> EMBASE Eilers M., Patel A.B., Liu W., Smith S.O. (2002)Comparison of helix interactions in membrane and soluble alpha-bundle proteins. Biophysical Journal. 82(5)(pp 2720-2736).