User:Michael Roberts/BIOL115 CaM: Difference between revisions
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[[Image: | [[Image:CaM.png|left|250px|thumb|Crystal Structure of Calmodulin [[1cll]]]] | ||
'''Sequence and structure of EF hands''' | <span style="font-size:150%">'''Sequence and structure of EF hands'''</span> | ||
The EF hand motif is present in a many proteins and it commonly bestows the ability to bind Ca<sup>2+</sup> ions. It was first identified in parvalbumin, a muscle protein. Here we'll have a look at the Ca<sup>2+</sup>-binding protein [[calmodulin]], which possesses four EF hands. Calmodulin and its isoform, troponinC, are important intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup>-binding proteins. | |||
The structure below, obtained by X-ray crystallography, represents the Ca<sup>2+</sup>-binding protein calmodulin. It has a dumbell-shaped structure with two identical lobes connected by a central alpha-helix. Each lobe comprises three α-helices joined by loops. A helix-loop-helix motif forms the basis of each EF hand. | |||
Click on the ''' 'green links' ''' in the text in the scrollable section below to examine this molecule in more detail. | |||
<StructureSection load='1cll' size='600' side='right' caption='Structure of human calmodulin (PDB entry [[1cll]])' scene='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Wireframe/3'> | |||
== Molecular Model: == | |||
We'll start with a simple ball-and-stick representation of the protein. This shows all of the atoms that make up the protein and the bonds between them. | |||
'''BACKBONE''': | |||
The ball-and-stick view shows us all the atoms, but if we're mainly interested in the overall structure of the protein, this can be too much detail. | |||
This next veiw takes us right down to a minimal representation that simply traces the <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Backbone/1'>"backbone" </scene>of the protein. The backbone includes the peptide linkages between each amino acid, along with the alpha-carbon atoms to which the side chains are attached. Notice that helical regions can now easily be seen. | |||
'''SECONDARY STRUCTURE''': This is shown more clearly by a <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Structure_plus_c/2'>ribbon diagram</scene>. The computer calculates where regions of secondary structure occur and draws them in cartoon-style 'ribbons'. | |||
The α-helical region is now clearly defined, and there are also regions of β-structure. | |||
''Colour key:'' | |||
{{Template:ColorKey_Helix}}, | {{Template:ColorKey_Helix}}, | ||
{{Template:ColorKey_Strand}}, | {{Template:ColorKey_Strand}}. | ||
{{Template: | |||
The short anti-parallel beta-sheet between the adjacent EF hand loops are observed in calmodulins from various species. | |||
== Calcium Binding == | |||
'''CALCIUM IONS''': | |||
In each EF hand loop, the Ca<sup>2+</sup> ions are bound by amino acid residues in and near the loops. | |||
The structure shown here has four <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Structure_plus_c/3'>calcium ions</scene> bound. In this condition, the protein adopts the extended structure shown. The EF hand-forming helices are bent away from the long linking helix, revealing hydrophobic residues and exposing the linking chain. | |||
'''CO-ORDINATING RESIDUES''': | |||
To illustrate how Ca<sup>2+</sup> is bound, this display shows the <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Co-ordination/1'>residues that take part in binding</scene> one of the Ca<sup>2+</sup> ions. | |||
<scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Co-ordination/2'>Zoom in</scene> to see this more clearly. | |||
'''CO-ORDINATING ATOMS''': | |||
To highlight the atoms that co-ordinate the Ca<sup>2+</sup> ion, we can now enlarge those that are close (within 2.7 Å). This shows that <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Co-ordination/3'>seven oxygen</scene> atoms form the calcium co-ordination shell. Five are contributed by the side chain carboxyl groups of Asp and Glu and a sixth by the peptide carbonyl of Gln. The seventh oxygen is provided by an associated water molecule. | |||
== Binding to target proteins == | |||
'''ACTIVE & INACTIVE CALMODULIN:''' | |||
At resting levels of cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> (~100 nM), calmodulin exists predominantly in the calcium-free form. This is called <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Inactive_calmodulin/1'>apo-calmodulin</scene> and its structure is more compact than the structure we saw earlier <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Structure_plus_c/3'>with bound calcium</scene>. Note the extended α-helix linking the two EF-hand-containing domains in the Ca-bound structure, which is interrupted in the <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Inactive_calmodulin/1'>Ca-free form</scene>. Here, the terminal helices are folded down concealing their hydrophobic surfaces and the central chain, which is not now α-helical along its whole length, is not exposed. | |||
'''CALMODULIN INTERACTS WITH ITS TARGET:''' | |||
The Ca<sup>2+</sup>-bound form of calmodulin with its exposed hydrophobic surfaces that you have already observed can <scene name='User:Michael_Roberts/BIOL115_CaM/Active_calmodulin/1'>interact with a target protein</scene>. It does this by wrapping around a specific sequence on the target molecule, which is then forced into an α-helical structure. | |||
The target molecule here (shown in blue) is the calmodulin-regulated enzyme, myosin light chain kinase. Only a short sequence from this protein, the calmodulin binding domain, is shown. | |||
In this view, <scene name='54/541097/Active_calmodulin/3'>polar and non-polar residues</scene> are coloured in order to highlight the hydrophobic interior of the molecule, which forms the binding site for the myosin light chain kinase calmodulin binding domain. | |||
{{Template:ColorKey_Hydrophobic}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Polar}} | |||
</StructureSection> | |||
'''External Resources.''' | |||
You can view a nice animation of the conformational change undergone by calmodulin upon calcium binding by following this link [http://morph2.molmovdb.org/results.rpy?jobid=8350057535]. |