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Abstract:
Coiled coils are formed by α-helices winding around each other into superhelical bundles [1,2]. They are characterized by a specific geometry of interaction, called knobs-into-holes, in which core residues contributed by alternating segments of 3 and 4 residues mesh regularly along a seam that runs the length of the helices. This alternation yields a periodicity of 7 residues over 2 helical turns – the heptad repeat – but variant coiled coils can be formed by other periodicities resulting from the combination of 3- and 4-residue segments, such as decads (3+4+3), hendecads (3+4+4), or pentadecads (3+4+4+4), but not with consecutive segments of 3 residues (3+3 or 3+3+3).
