Evolutionary classification of protein domain structures
alpha arrays alpha-helix arrays with mainly perpendicular helices
alpha bundles alpha-helix bundles with mainly parallel helices
alpha superhelices repeating alpha-helix hairpins form a superhelix
alpha duplicates or obligate multimers alpha duplicates or monomers associate together to form a compact domain
alpha complex topology alpha domain with complex and unique topology that cannot be described as array or bundle or superhelix
beta barrels single beta-sheet folded upon itself to form a barrel
beta meanders single beta-sheet with mainly meander topology
beta sandwiches two beta-sheets stacked together to form a sandwich
beta duplicates or obligate multimers beta duplicates or monomers associate together to form a compact domain
beta complex topology beta domains with complex and unique topology that cannot be described as barrel or sandwich or meander
a+b two layers one alpha-helix layer and one beta-sheet layer
a+b three layers one mainly antiparallel beta-sheet layer sandwiched between two alpha-helix layers
a+b four layers two beta-sheet layers sandwiched between two alpha-helix layers
a+b complex topology alpha and beta domain with complex and unique topology that cannot be described in layers
a+b duplicates or obligate multimers alpha and beta duplicates or monomers associated together to form a compact domain
a/b barrels repeating beta-alpha units form a barrel
a/b three-layered sandwiches repeating beta-alpha units form a sandwich with a mainly parallel beta-sheet layer stacked between two alpha-helix layers
mixed a+b and a/b alpha and beta domain consists of both a+b and a/b regions
few secondary structure elements stabilized by cofactors or disulfides
extended segments extended, non-globular segments, frequently bind to other proteins to form complexes