Download MendeleyThe crystal structure of plasma gelsolin: implications for actin severing, capping, and nucleation.
Burtnick, L.D., Koepf, E.K., Grimes, J., Jones, E.Y., Stuart, D.I., McLaughlin, P.J., Robinson, R.C.(1997) Cell 90: 661-670
- PubMed: 9288746
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80527-9
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
1D0N - PubMed Abstract:
The structure of gelsolin has been determined by crystallography and comprises six structurally related domains that, in a Ca2+-free environment, pack together to form a compact globular structure in which the putative actin-binding sequences are not sufficiently exposed to enable binding to occur. We propose that binding Ca2+ can release the connections that join the N- and C-terminal halves of gelsolin, enabling each half to bind actin relatively independently. Domain shifts are proposed in response to Ca2+ as bases for models of how gelsolin acts to sever, cap, or nucleate F-actin filaments. The structure also invites discussion of polyphosphoinositide binding to segment 2 and suggests how mutation at Asp-187 could initiate a series of events that lead to deposition of amyloid plaques, as observed in victims of familial amyloidosis (Finnish type).
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
