C-terminal binding: an expanded repertoire and function of 14-3-3 proteins.

Amino and carboxyl termini are unique positions in a polypeptide. They tend to be exposed in folded three dimensional structures. Diversity and functional significance of C-terminal sequences have been appreciated from studies of PDZ and PEX domains. Signaling 14-3-3 protein signaling by recognizing phosphorylated peptides plays a critical role in a variety of biological processes, including oncogenesis. The preferential binding of 14-3-3 to phosphorylated C-terminal sequences, mode III, provides a means of regulated binding and considerably expands the substrate repertoire of 14-3-3 interaction partners.