A computergraphical method of describing the shapes of subunit interfaces of oligomers. Analysis of the quaternary structure of concanavalin A and of prealbumin.

A new method is described for mapping the shape of the intersubunit contacts of oligomers with identical subunits or pairs of subunits. Plots are generated for the dimer--dimer interactions of concanavalin A and prealbumin, which are both tetramers. Both contacts lie at the junction between the faces of two apposed beta-sheets, but in most other respects the interactions are seen to be different.