Sandbox11

<B>This sandbox is in use until June 1, 2009 for UMass Chemistry 490a. Others please do not edit this page. Thanks!</B>

''K Sniffen 3/3/09, Keith Barbato, Jonathan Rymasz 3/18/09''

{{STRUCTURE_1lds | PDB=1lds | SCENE= }}

==Name==

beta-2-microglobulin

==About this Structure==

This protein consists of seven <scene name='Sandbox11/Beta-2-microglobulin/1'>Beta-sheets</scene> shown here in purple. It also has a small <scene name='Sandbox11/Beta_2_microglobulin/1'>alpha-helix</scene> on the surface of the protein shown in teal. Notice also, the <scene name='Sandbox11/Ligand_of_beta_2-microglobulin/1'>ligand</scene>, which allows for binding to occur. Beta-2-microglobulin is a serum protein found in association with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I heavy chain on the surface of nearly all nucleated cells (Gussow et al., 1987 [PubMed 3312414])[1]

Here's a <scene name='Sandbox11/Disulfide_bond/1'>disulfide</scene>

bond!!

There is a hydrophobic element to B2M. When all of the most hydrophobic residues are selected, it can be clearly seen that there is a <scene name='Sandbox11/Beta-2-m_hydrophobic_core/1'>Hydrophobic Core</scene> between the two Beta sheets. Speculation could say that it has evolved in this manner to protect the <scene name='Sandbox11/Disulfide_bond/1'>disulfide bond</scene>.

==References==

[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=567]Entrez Gene: B2M

[http://www.russell.embl.de/aas/hydrophobic.html] list of hydrophobic amino acids