Backbone dynamics of a module pair from the ligand-binding domain of the LDL receptor

Biochemistry. 2001 Mar 6;40(9):2808-15. doi: 10.1021/bi0027276.

Abstract

The ligand-binding domain of the LDL receptor consists of seven contiguous LDL-A modules. The fifth of these ligand-binding modules is absolutely required for recognition of both LDL and beta-VLDL particles. A four-residue linker of variable sequence connects each pair of modules, except for modules four and five, which are connected by a 12-residue linker. To provide a more detailed understanding of the structural relationship in a typical pair of functionally important LDL-A repeats of the LDLR, we investigated the backbone dynamics of repeats five (LR5) and six (LR6) alone and in the context of the covalently connected LR5-6 pair. Our results reveal substantial flexibility in the four-residue linker connecting the two repeats in the LR5-6 pair. The intrinsic dynamic behavior of each repeat is essentially unchanged when the repeats are covalently connected. These observations indicate that the relative orientation of repeats in LR5-6 is not fixed. Modeled in an extended conformation, the linker can separate LR5 and LR6 by up to 15 A, a distance that would allow substantial freedom of motion of each repeat with respect to the other in the pair.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, LDL / chemistry*
  • Receptors, LDL / metabolism*
  • Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid*
  • Solutions
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptors, LDL
  • Solutions