Structural insights into the assembly of CARMA1 and BCL10
Li, S., Yang, X., Shao, J., Shen, Y.(2012) PLoS One 7: e42775-e42775
- PubMed: 22880103 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0042775
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4I16 - PubMed Abstract: 
The CBM complex (CARMA1, BCL10 and MALT1) plays a crucial role in B and T lymphocyte activation. CARMA1 serves as a scaffold for BCL10, MALT1 and other effector proteins and regulates various signaling pathways related to the immune response. The assembly of CARMA1 and BCL10 is mediated through a CARD-CARD interaction. Here, we report the crystal structure of the CARD domain of CARMA1 at a resolution of 1.75 Å. The structure consists of six helices, as previously determined for CARD domains. Structural and computational analysis identified the binding interface between CARMA1-CARD and BCL10-CARD, which consists of a basic patch in CARMA1 and an acidic patch in BCL10. Site-directed mutagenesis, co-immunoprecipitation and an NF-κB activation assay confirmed that the interface is necessary for association and downstream signaling. Our studies provide molecular insight into the assembly of CARMA1 and BCL10.
Organizational Affiliation: 
State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.