alpha arraysalpha-helix arrays with mainly perpendicular helices

alpha bundlesalpha-helix bundles with mainly parallel helices

a+b two layersone alpha-helix layer and one beta-sheet layer

a+b three layersone mainly antiparallel beta-sheet layer sandwiched between two alpha-helix layers

a+b four layerstwo beta-sheet layers sandwiched between two alpha-helix layers

a+b complex topologyalpha and beta domain with complex and unique topology that cannot be described in layers

a+b duplicates or obligate multimersalpha and beta duplicates or monomers associated together to form a compact domain

a/b barrelsrepeating beta-alpha units form a barrel

a/b three-layered sandwichesrepeating beta-alpha units form a sandwich with a mainly parallel beta-sheet layer stacked between two alpha-helix layers

mixed a+b and a/balpha and beta domain consists of both a+b and a/b regions

few secondary structure elementsstabilized by cofactors or disulfides

extended segmentsextended, non-globular segments, frequently bind to other proteins to form complexes

alpha superhelicesrepeating alpha-helix hairpins form a superhelix

alpha duplicates or obligate multimersalpha duplicates or monomers associate together to form a compact domain

alpha complex topologyalpha domain with complex and unique topology that cannot be described as array or bundle or superhelix

beta barrelssingle beta-sheet folded upon itself to form a barrel

beta meanderssingle beta-sheet with mainly meander topology

beta sandwichestwo beta-sheets stacked together to form a sandwich

beta duplicates or obligate multimersbeta duplicates or monomers associate together to form a compact domain

beta complex topologybeta domains with complex and unique topology that cannot be described as barrel or sandwich or meander