HEPTAD REPEAT Meaning and
Definition
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A heptad repeat refers to a repetitive pattern of amino acids within a protein sequence. Specifically, this repeat consists of a group of seven amino acids that are arranged in a specific pattern. The term "heptad" indicates the number seven, and "repeat" signifies that this sequence pattern occurs multiple times in a protein.
In a heptad repeat, the positions within the pattern are labeled conventionally as a to g. In this pattern, positions a and d are often hydrophobic amino acids, while positions e and g are typically charged or polar amino acids. The amino acids at positions b, c, and f vary significantly among different heptad repeats.
Heptad repeats are crucial for the formation of coiled-coil structures in proteins. Coiled-coils are formed when two or more alpha-helices wrap around each other, creating a stable and structurally significant motif. Heptad repeats facilitate this folding by promoting the interaction between two alpha-helices. The hydrophobic amino acids at positions a and d form a hydrophobic interface, while the charged or polar amino acids at positions e and g contribute to the stability of the coiled-coil structure. The variable amino acids at positions b, c, and f may influence the specificity of protein-protein interactions.
Overall, heptad repeats play an essential role in the structural organization and stability of proteins, particularly in the formation of coiled-coil structures.
Common Misspellings for HEPTAD REPEAT
- geptad repeat
- beptad repeat
- neptad repeat
- jeptad repeat
- ueptad repeat
- yeptad repeat
- hwptad repeat
- hsptad repeat
- hdptad repeat
- hrptad repeat
- h4ptad repeat
- h3ptad repeat
- heotad repeat
- heltad repeat
- he0tad repeat
- heprad repeat
- hepfad repeat
- hepgad repeat
- hepyad repeat
- hep6ad repeat
Etymology of HEPTAD REPEAT
The term "heptad repeat" is formed by combining the words "heptad" and "repeat".
The word "heptad" comes from the Greek word "heptas", which means "seven". It is related to the Greek word "hepta", which also means "seven". In the context of molecular biology and protein structure, a heptad refers to a sequence of seven amino acids that repeat in a specific pattern.
The word "repeat" is derived from the Old French word "repetir", which in turn comes from the Latin word "repetere", meaning "to return, repeat". It signifies the action of something occurring again or the existence of a pattern that recurs.
Therefore, "heptad repeat" refers to the repetition of a specific pattern of seven amino acids in a protein structure.
