Structural studies of cerebral cavernous malformations 2 (CCM2) reveal a folded helical domain at its C-terminus

FEBS Lett. 2013 Jan 31;587(3):272-7. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.12.011. Epub 2012 Dec 22.

Abstract

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are neurovascular dysplasias affecting up to 0.5% of the population. Mutations in the CCM2 gene are associated with acquisition of CCM. We identify a previously uncharacterized domain at the C-terminus of CCM2 and determine its 1.9Å resolution crystal structure. Because this domain is structurally homologous to the N-terminal domain of harmonin, we name it the CCM2 harmonin-homology domain or HHD. CCM2 HHD is observed in two conformations, and we employ analytical ultracentrifugation to test its oligomerization. Additionally, CCM2 HHD contains an unusually long 13-residue 3(10) helix. This study provides the first structural characterization of CCM2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / chemistry
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CCM2 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Carrier Proteins