Mapping the Ca2+ -dependent binding of an invertebrate homolog of protein phosphatase 4 regulatory subunit 2 to the small EF-hand protein, calsensin

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Mar;1763(3):322-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2006.02.013. Epub 2006 Mar 24.

Abstract

The EF-hand family of calcium-binding proteins regulates cellular signal transduction events via calcium-dependent interactions with target proteins. Here, we show that the COOH-terminal tail of the leech homolog of protein phosphatase 4 regulatory subunit 2 (PP4-R2) interacts with the small neuronal EF-hand calcium-binding protein, Calsensin, in a calcium-dependent manner. Using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and chemical shift perturbations we have identified and mapped the residues of Calsensin that form a binding surface for PP4-R2. We show that the binding groove is formed primarily of discontinuous hydrophobic residues located in helix 1, the hinge region, and helix 4 of the unicornate-type four helix structure of Calsensin. The findings suggest the possibility that calcium-dependent modulation of phosphatase complexes through interactions with small calcium-binding proteins may be a general mechanism for regulation of signal transduction pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • EF Hand Motifs*
  • Leeches / enzymology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / chemistry
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Interaction Mapping

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • calsensin protein, Hirudinea
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Calcium