- PMID:
10847681 , Related PDB id: 1EF1
- Authors:
- Pearson MA, Reczek D, Bretscher A, Karplus PA
- Title:
- Structure of the ERM protein moesin reveals the FERM domain fold masked by an extended actin binding tail domain.
- Journal:
- Cell. 2000 Apr 28;101(3):259-70.
- Abstract:
- The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) protein family link actin filaments of cell surface structures to the plasma membrane, using a C-terminal F-actin binding segment and an N-terminal FERM domain, a common membrane binding module. ERM proteins are regulated by an intramolecular association of the FERM and C-terminal tail domains that masks their binding sites. The crystal structure of a dormant moesin FERM/tail complex reveals that the FERM domain has three compact lobes including an integrated PTB/PH/ EVH1 fold, with the C-terminal segment bound as an extended peptide masking a large surface of the FERM domain. This extended binding mode suggests a novel mechanism for how different signals could produce varying levels of activation. Sequence conservation suggests a similar regulation of the tumor suppressor merlin.