Rossmann Fold (Molecular Biology)

In the 1970s, Rossman and colleagues (1, 2) identified, analyzed, and characterized the similarity between the protein structures of lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase, two enzymes that bind the dinucleotide NAD. Both protein structures incorporate two b-a-b-a-b protein motifs, and each half of the bound dinucleotide binds to one of these units. The b-a-b-a-b structural motif, which forms a parallel b-sheet surrounded by a-helices, is referred to as either a Rossmann fold or a mononucleotide-binding motif.