Apolipoprotein A-I

PDB file 1AV1

Structure of the truncated human apolipoprotein A-I of HDL, solved by D. W. Borhani, D. P. Rogers, J.A. Engler, & C. G. Brouillette in 1997.

Suggested display options:

First color chain and display as cartoon to see the predominant secondary structure of this tetramer, consisting of two antiparallel dimers with overlapping ends.

Select residue-PRO, and change display to sticks, with color CPK.
Note the positions of prolines. What is their role?

Then make everything disappear by selecting all, and then hide selection. 

Type in select *a, *b and display as spacefill. Select protein-hydrophobic and specify a color. Select protein-polar and specify a different color.
Select protein-backbone and then select hide.
Questions:
Why is this protein referred to as amphipathic?
What interactions hold the dimer together?

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