Solution structure of a mammalian PCB-binding protein in complex with a PCB

Nat Struct Biol. 1995 Nov;2(11):983-9. doi: 10.1038/nsb1195-983.

Abstract

Metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) bind with high affinity to uteroglobin, a small homodimeric protein that also binds progesterone. We present the solution structure of the reduced form of rat uteroglobin in complex with a PCB methylsulphone, (MeSO2)2-TCB. The structure reveals the molecular basis for the accumulation of (MeSO2)2-TCB by uteroglobin. The structure also shows how ligand binding and release might be controlled by reduction/oxidation of two intermolecular disulphide bonds. Breakage of these bonds induces a local unfolding of the N- and C-termini and a separation of helices creating a channel into the binding site. These effects make the ligand binding cavity readily accessible to entry of the ligand.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / chemistry*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Uteroglobin / chemistry*
  • Uteroglobin / genetics
  • Uteroglobin / metabolism

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • 4,4'-bis(methylsulfonyl)-2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl
  • Uteroglobin
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls