Beta trefoil fold

β trefoil fold is a protein fold that consists of twelve six beta hairpins, each formed by two beta strands. Together these form a beta barrel with a triangular "cap", each consisting of three hairpins. Overall, this structure has an approximate three-fold symmetry.

The hairpins are arranged in three β-β-β-loop-β sequences, each having a "Y" or trefoil-like structure. The first and forth β strands form one hairpin, while the second and third form the other hairpin- each hairpin forms another arm of the "Y" and the long loop forms its trunk.

The beta barrel has a 16 Å diameter, and is filled with amino acid side-chains.

Among other proteins, β trefoil fold is found in Kunitz inhibitors of several plants such as soybean, Erythrina caffra and wheat; in members of the interleukin 1 cytokine family (interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist); and in fibroblast growth factors 1 and 2.

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