1q5w: Difference between revisions

[[Image:1q5w.jpg|left|200px]]

'''Ubiquitin Recognition by Npl4 Zinc-Fingers'''

Ubiquitin (Ub) functions in many different biological pathways, where it typically interacts with proteins that contain modular Ub recognition domains. One such recognition domain is the Npl4 zinc finger (NZF), a compact zinc-binding module found in many proteins that function in Ub-dependent processes. We now report the solution structure of the NZF domain from Npl4 in complex with Ub. The structure reveals that three key NZF residues (13TF14/M25) surrounding the zinc coordination site bind the hydrophobic 'Ile44' surface of Ub. Mutations in the 13TF14/M25 motif inhibit Ub binding, and naturally occurring NZF domains that lack the motif do not bind Ub. However, substitution of the 13TF14/M25 motif into the nonbinding NZF domain from RanBP2 creates Ub-binding activity, demonstrating the versatility of the NZF scaffold. Finally, NZF mutations that inhibit Ub binding by the NZF domain of Vps36/ESCRT-II also inhibit sorting of ubiquitylated proteins into the yeast vacuole. Thus, the NZF is a versatile protein recognition domain that is used to bind ubiquitylated proteins during vacuolar protein sorting, and probably many other biological processes.

1Q5W is a [[Protein complex]] structure of sequences from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapiens Homo sapiens] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattus_norvegicus Rattus norvegicus]. Full crystallographic information is available from [http://oca.weizmann.ac.il/oca-bin/ocashort?id=1Q5W OCA].  

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