In proline, the nitrogen atom is part of a rigid ring, and
rotation about the N-Cbond
is not possible. Thus, a Proline residue introduces a destabilizing
kink in an
helix.
The nitrogen atom of a Proline residue in peptide linkage has
no substituent hydrogen to participate in hydrogen bonds with other
residues. For these reasons, proline is only rarely found within an
helix.
The range for Proline residues is greatly restricted because
is limited by the cyclic side chain to the range of
-35o to -85o.The rigid cyclic side chain of
proline occupies the space of a neighboring residue of the helix
and disrupts the helical structure.