Periaxin and Ahnak Nucleoprotein 2 Form Intertwined Homodimers Through Domain Swapping
Han, H., Kursula, P.(2014) J Biol Chem 289: 14121
- PubMed: 24675079 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M114.554816
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4CMZ, 4CN0 - PubMed Abstract: 
Periaxin (PRX) is an abundant protein in the peripheral nervous system, with an important role in myelination. PRX participates in large molecular complexes, most likely through the interactions of its N-terminal PSD-95/Discs-large/ZO-1 (PDZ)-like domain. We present the crystal structures of the PDZ-like domains from PRX and its homologue AHNAK nucleoprotein 2 (AHNAK2). The unique intertwined, domain-swapped dimers provide a structural basis for the homodimerization of both proteins. The core of the homodimer is formed by a 6-stranded antiparallel β sheet, with every other strand from a different chain. The AHNAK2 PDZ domain structure contains a bound class III ligand peptide. The binding pocket is preformed, and the peptide-PDZ interactions have unique aspects, including two salt bridges and weak recognition of the peptide C terminus. Tight homodimerization may be central to the scaffolding functions of PRX and AHNAK2 in molecular complexes linking the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeletal network.
Organizational Affiliation: 
From the Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland, the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), 22607 Hamburg, Germany, and.