PMID: 14527664

Authors:

Narayan K, Chumnarnsilpa S, Choe H, Irobi E, Urosev D, Lindberg U, Schutt CE, Burtnick LD, Robinson RC

Title:

Activation in isolation: exposure of the actin-binding site in the C-terminal half of gelsolin does not require actin.

Journal:

FEBS Lett. 2003 Sep 25;552(2-3):82-5.

Abstract:

Gelsolin requires activation to carry out its severing and capping activities on F-actin. Here, we present the structure of the isolated C-terminal half of gelsolin (G4-G6) at 2.0 A resolution in the presence of Ca(2+) ions. This structure completes a triptych of the states of activation of G4-G6 that illuminates its role in the function of gelsolin. Activated G4-G6 displays an open conformation, with the actin-binding site on G4 fully exposed and all three type-2 Ca(2+) sites occupied. Neither actin nor the type-l Ca(2+), which normally is sandwiched between actin and G4, is required to achieve this conformation.