Identification of secondary structures in globular proteins - a new algorithm*

A new algorithm has been developed for identifying helices, extended structures, and bends from the positions of the alpha-carbon atoms using the virtual bond approach. The parameters used are two virtual bond angles (delta 1 and delta 2), the virtual dihedral angle (theta), and the distance (D) between the terminal alpha-carbon atoms of the tripeptide. The criteria for classification have been worked out by model building as well as from...