DETERMINANTS OF CALCIUM BINDING IN NON EF HAND PROTEINS

描述：生物化学家和结构生物学家已经研究出一种 关于一组常见的钙结合蛋白的巨大数量 含有“EF-HAN基序”(肌钙蛋白C、小白蛋白、钙调蛋白等) 其中有关于其结构和信息的相对丰富的信息 功能。然而，另一组独特的蛋白质存在，即 钙结合蛋白和溶菌酶，它们是“非经典的” 具有独特和独特配位的钙结合蛋白 几何图形。阳离子结合环的整体形貌和作用 钙结合的α-乳球蛋白还没有完全被理解。 此外，α-乳球蛋白的独特之处在于它们有很高的 形成中间的“熔融小球”折叠状态。它们还绑定了 金属离子锌在另一个不同的位置，它调节构象 钙结合形式的性质。这个项目的目的是 解开钙结合的结构和功能特性 这种牛奶蛋白的性质，它改变了 乳糖生物合成中的半乳糖基转移酶。 该项目的具体目标是： 1.解开钙结合(和折叠)中的决定因素 蛋白质的结构完整性)。 2.确定哪些蛋白质残基被埋在膜中。 3.确定参与锌结合的氨基酸的作用。

DESCRIPTION: Biochemists and structural biologists have learned a tremendous amount about a common group of calcium-binding proteins containing the "EF-han motif" (troponin C, parvalbumin, calmodulin, etc.) from which there is a relative wealth on information on their structures and function. However another unique group of proteins exist, the calcium-binding a-lactalbumins and lysozymes, which are "non-classical" calcium-binding proteins which have a unique and distinct coordination geometry. The overall topography and role of the cation binding loop in the calcium-binding alpha-lactalbumins has yet to b fully understood. Furthermore, the alpha-lactalbumins are unique in their high propensity to form the intermediate "molten globule" folding state. They also bind the metal ion zinc at another distinct site, which modulates the conformational properties of the calcium bound form. The aims of this project are to unravel the structural and functional properties of the calcium binding properties of this milk protein, which modifies the specificity of the enzyme galactosyl transferase in lactose biosynthesis. The specific aims of this project are to: 1. Unravel the determinants involved in calcium binding (and in the folding an structural integrity of the protein). 2. Determine which residues of the protein are buried in membranes. 3. Determine the role of the amino acids involved in zinc binding.