2LR3

Solution structure of the anti-fungal defensin DEF4 (MTR_8g070770) from Medicago truncatula (barrel clover)


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: SOLUTION NMR
  • Conformers Calculated: 100 
  • Conformers Submitted: 20 
  • Selection Criteria: target function 

wwPDB Validation   3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.2 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Structural and Functional Studies of a Phosphatidic Acid-Binding Antifungal Plant Defensin MtDef4: Identification of an RGFRRR Motif Governing Fungal Cell Entry.

Sagaram, U.S.El-Mounadi, K.Buchko, G.W.Berg, H.R.Kaur, J.Pandurangi, R.S.Smith, T.J.Shah, D.M.

(2013) PLoS One 8: e82485-e82485

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082485
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    2LR3

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    MtDef4 is a 47-amino acid cysteine-rich evolutionary conserved defensin from a model legume Medicago truncatula. It is an apoplast-localized plant defense protein that inhibits the growth of the ascomycetous fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum in vitro at micromolar concentrations. Little is known about the mechanisms by which MtDef4 mediates its antifungal activity. In this study, we show that MtDef4 rapidly permeabilizes fungal plasma membrane and is internalized by the fungal cells where it accumulates in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, analysis of the structure of MtDef4 reveals the presence of a positively charged γ-core motif composed of β2 and β3 strands connected by a positively charged RGFRRR loop. Replacement of the RGFRRR sequence with AAAARR or RGFRAA abolishes the ability of MtDef4 to enter fungal cells, suggesting that the RGFRRR loop is a translocation signal required for the internalization of the protein. MtDef4 binds to phosphatidic acid (PA), a precursor for the biosynthesis of membrane phospholipids and a signaling lipid known to recruit cytosolic proteins to membranes. Amino acid substitutions in the RGFRRR sequence which abolish the ability of MtDef4 to enter fungal cells also impair its ability to bind PA. These findings suggest that MtDef4 is a novel antifungal plant defensin capable of entering into fungal cells and affecting intracellular targets and that these processes are mediated by the highly conserved cationic RGFRRR loop via its interaction with PA.


  • Organizational Affiliation

    Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.


Macromolecules
Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Defensin47Medicago truncatulaMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: MTR_049s0004MTR_8g070770
Membrane Entity: Yes 
UniProt
Find proteins for G7L736 (Medicago truncatula)
Explore G7L736 
Go to UniProtKB:  G7L736
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupG7L736
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: SOLUTION NMR
  • Conformers Calculated: 100 
  • Conformers Submitted: 20 
  • Selection Criteria: target function 

Structure Validation

View Full Validation Report



Entry History 

Deposition Data

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2012-09-26
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2013-12-18
    Changes: Database references
  • Version 1.2: 2023-06-14
    Changes: Data collection, Database references, Other