Crystal structure of a PDZ domain.
Morais Cabral, J.H., Petosa, C., Sutcliffe, M.J., Raza, S., Byron, O., Poy, F., Marfatia, S.M., Chishti, A.H., Liddington, R.C.(1996) Nature 382: 649-652
- PubMed: 8757139 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/382649a0
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1PDR - PubMed Abstract: 
PDZ domains (also known as DHR domains or GLGF repeats) are approximately 90-residue repeats found in a number of proteins implicated in ion-channel and receptor clustering, and the linking of receptors to effector enzymes. PDZ domains are protein-recognition modules; some recognize proteins containing the consensus carboxy-terminal tripeptide motif S/TXV with high specificity. Other PDZ domains form homotypic dimers: the PDZ domain of the neuronal enzyme nitric oxide synthase binds to the PDZ domain of PSD-95, an interaction that has been implicated in its synaptic association. Here we report the crystal structure of the third PDZ domain of the human homologue of the Drosophila discs-large tumour-suppressor gene product, DlgA. It consists of a five-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel flanked by three alpha-helices. A groove runs over the surface of the domain, ending in a conserved hydrophobic pocket and a buried arginine; we suggest that this is the binding site for the C-terminal peptide.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, UK.