Download MendeleyCrystallographic structure of ubiquitin in complex with cadmium ions
Qureshi, I.A., Ferron, F., Seh, C.C., Cheung, P., Lescar, J.(2009) BMC Res Notes 2: 251-251
- PubMed: 20003470
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-2-251
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
3H1U - PubMed Abstract:
Ubiquitination plays a critical role in regulating many cellular processes, from DNA repair and gene transcription to cell cycle and apoptosis. It is catalyzed by a specific enzymatic cascade ultimately leading to the conjugation of ubiquitin to lysine residues of the target protein that can be the ubiquitin molecule itself and to the formation of poly-ubiquitin chains. We present the crystal structure at 3.0 A resolution of bovine ubiquitin crystallized in presence of cadmium ions. Two molecules of ubiquitin are present in the asymmetric unit. Interestingly this non-covalent dimeric arrangement brings Lys-6 and Lys-63 of each crystallographically-independent monomer in close contact with the C-terminal ends of the other monomer. Residues Leu-8, Ile-44 and Val-70 that form a hydrophobic patch at the surface of the Ub monomer are trapped at the dimer interface. The structural basis for signalling by poly-Ub chains relies on a visualization of conformations of alternatively linked poly-Ub chains. This arrangement of ubiquitin could illustrate how linkages involving Lys-6 or Lys-63 of ubiquitin are produced in the cell. It also details how ubiquitin molecules can specifically chelate cadmium ions.
Organizational Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore.
