S P Smith1, G S Shaw. 1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: S100B is a homodimeric member of the EF-hand calcium-binding protein superfamily. The protein has been implicated in cellular processes such as cell differentiation and growth, plays a role in cytoskeletal structure and function, and may have a role in neuropathological diseases, such as Alzheimers. The effects of S100B are mediated via its interaction with target proteins. While several studies have suggested that this interaction is propagated through a calcium-induced conformational change, leading to the exposure of a hydrophobic region of S100B, the molecular details behind this structural alteration remain unclear. RESULTS: The solution structure of calcium-saturated human S100B (Ca(2+)-S100B) has been determined by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Ca(2+)-S100B forms a well defined globular structure comprising four EF-hand calcium-binding sites and an extensive hydrophobic dimer interface. A comparison of Ca(2+)-S100B with apo S100B and Ca(2+)-calbindin D9k indicates that while calcium-binding to S100B results in little change in the site I EF-hand, it induces a backbone reorientation of the N terminus of the site II EF-hand. This reorientation leads to a dramatic change in the position of helix III relative to the other helices. CONCLUSIONS: The calcium-induced reorientation of calcium-binding site II results in the increased exposure of several hydrophobic residues in helix IV and the linker region. While following the general mechanism of calcium modulatory proteins, whereby a hydrophobic target site is exposed, the 'calcium switch' observed in S100B appears to be unique from that of other EF-hand proteins and may provide insights into target specificity among calcium modulatory proteins.
BACKGROUND:S100B is a homodimeric member of the EF-hand calcium-binding protein superfamily. The protein has been implicated in cellular processes such as cell differentiation and growth, plays a role in cytoskeletal structure and function, and may have a role in neuropathological diseases, such as Alzheimers. The effects of S100B are mediated via its interaction with target proteins. While several studies have suggested that this interaction is propagated through a calcium-induced conformational change, leading to the exposure of a hydrophobic region of S100B, the molecular details behind this structural alteration remain unclear. RESULTS: The solution structure of calcium-saturated humanS100B (Ca(2+)-S100B) has been determined by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Ca(2+)-S100B forms a well defined globular structure comprising four EF-hand calcium-binding sites and an extensive hydrophobic dimer interface. A comparison of Ca(2+)-S100B with apo S100B and Ca(2+)-calbindin D9k indicates that while calcium-binding to S100B results in little change in the site I EF-hand, it induces a backbone reorientation of the N terminus of the site II EF-hand. This reorientation leads to a dramatic change in the position of helix III relative to the other helices. CONCLUSIONS: The calcium-induced reorientation of calcium-binding site II results in the increased exposure of several hydrophobic residues in helix IV and the linker region. While following the general mechanism of calcium modulatory proteins, whereby a hydrophobic target site is exposed, the 'calcium switch' observed in S100B appears to be unique from that of other EF-hand proteins and may provide insights into target specificity among calcium modulatory proteins.
Authors: Yi-Chien Lee; David E Volk; Varatharasa Thiviyanathan; Quinn Kleerekoper; Alexey V Gribenko; Shanmin Zhang; David G Gorenstein; George I Makhatadze; Bruce A Luxon Journal: J Biomol NMR Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 2.835
Authors: Thomas H Charpentier; Laura E Thompson; Melissa A Liriano; Kristen M Varney; Paul T Wilder; Edwin Pozharski; Eric A Toth; David J Weber Journal: J Mol Biol Date: 2010-01-04 Impact factor: 5.469