PMID: 18508764 , Related PDB id: 2K2R
Authors:
Wang X, Fukuda K, Byeon IJ, Velyvis A, Wu C, Gronenborn A, Qin J
Title:
The structure of alpha-parvin CH2-paxillin LD1 complex reveals a novel modular recognition for focal adhesion assembly.
Journal:
J Biol Chem. 2008 Jul 25;283(30):21113-9. Epub 2008 May 28.
Abstract:
Alpha-parvin is an essential component of focal adhesions (FAs), which are large multiprotein complexes that link the plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton. Alpha-parvin contains two calponin homology (CH) domains and its C-terminal CH2 domain binds multiple targets including paxillin LD motifs for regulating the FA network and signaling. Here we describe the solution structure of alpha-parvin CH2 bound to paxillin LD1. We show that although CH2 contains the canonical CH-fold, a previously defined N-terminal linker forms an alpha-helix that packs unexpectedly with the C-terminal helix of CH2, resulting in a novel variant of the CH domain. Importantly, such packing generates a hydrophobic surface that recognizes the Leu-rich face of paxillin-LD1, and the binding pattern differs drastically from the classical paxillin-LD binding to four-helix bundle proteins such as focal adhesion kinase. These results define a novel modular recognition mode and reveal how alpha-parvin associates with paxillin to mediate the FA assembly and signaling.