Leucine Zipper

A diagram of two parallel protein alpha-helices of a leucine zipper (end view). Leucine is shown as d .

The leucine zipper complex (shown in blue) with DNA . Leucine residues, which ensure protein protein binding, are marked in red.

Leucine zipper (also leucine zipper , leucine zipper , eng. Leucine zipper ) - type of protein structure, protein motif . Often found in DNA-binding transcription factors .

In the leucine zipper, the amino acid leucine is located approximately in every 8th position of the alpha helix , with the result that the leucine residues are on one side of it, forming an amphipathic helix in which one side has hydrophobic properties. The leucine zipper forms a dimeric protein due to the binding of two parallel alpha helices like a zipper (that's why it is named).