Mapping the functional surface of domain 2 in the gelsolin superfamily.
Puius, Y.A., Fedorov, E.V., Eichinger, L., Schleicher, M., Almo, S.C.(2000) Biochemistry 39: 5322-5331
- PubMed: 10820002 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/bi992364d
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1SVY - PubMed Abstract: 
The crystal structure of the F-actin binding domain 2 of severin, the gelsolin homologue from Dictyostelium discoideum, has been determined by multiple isomorphous replacement and refined to 1.75 A resolution. The structure reveals an alpha-helix-beta-sheet sandwich similar to the domains of gelsolin and villin, and contains two cation-binding sites, as observed in other domain 1 and domain 2 homologues. Comparison of the structures of several gelsolin family domains has identified residues that may mediate F-actin binding in gelsolin domain 2 homologues. To assess the involvement of these residues in F-actin binding, three mutants of human gelsolin domain 2 were assayed for F-actin binding activity and thermodynamic stability. Two of the mutants, RRV168AAA and RLK210AAA, demonstrated a lowered affinity for F-actin, indicating a role for those residues in filament binding. Using both structural and biochemical data, we have constructed a model of the gelsolin domain 1-domain 2-F-actin complex. This model highlights a number of interactions that may serve as positive and negative determinants of filament end- and side-binding.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.