A novel calmodulin-Ca2+ target recognition activates the Bcl-2 regulator FKBP38.

The FK506-binding protein 38 (FKBP38) affects neuronal apoptosis control by suppressing the anti-apoptotic function of Bcl-2. The direct interaction between FKBP38 and Bcl-2, however, requires a prior activation of FKBP38 by the Ca2+ sensor calmodulin (CaM). Here we demonstrate for the first time that the formation of a complex between FKBP38 and CaM-Ca2+ involves two separate interaction sites, thus revealing a novel scenario of target protein regulation by CaM-Ca2+. The C-terminal FKBP38 residues Ser290-Asn313 bind to the target protein-binding cleft of the Ca2+-coordinated C-terminal CaM domain, thereby enabling the N-terminal CaM domain to interact with the catalytic domain of FKBP38 in a Ca2+-independent manner. Only the latter interaction between the catalytic FKBP38 domain and the N-terminal CaM domain activates FKBP38 and, as a consequence, also regulates Bcl-2.