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K. Kitadokoro, M. Ponassi, G. Galli, R. Petracca, F. Falugi, G. Grandi, M. Bolognesi

Subunit Association and Conformational Flexibility in the Head Subdomain of Human CD81 Large Extracellular Loop

The large extracellular loop of human CD81, a tetraspanin mediating hepatitis C virus envelope protein E2 binding to human cells, has been crystallized in a hexagonal form. The threedimensional structure, solved and refined at 2.6 å resolution (Rfactor = 22.8%), shows that the protein adopts a dimeric assembly, based on an association interface built up by tetraspaninconserved residues. Structural comparisons with the tertiary structure of human CD81 large extracellular loop, previously determined in a different crystal form, show marked conformational fluctuations in the molecular regions thought to be involved in binding to the viral protein, suggesting rules for recognition and assembly within the tetraspan web.

Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 383, 09/2002
Pages: 1447 - 1452

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