PMID: 24990821

Authors:

Allen MD, Qamar S, Vadivelu MK, Sandford RN, Bycroft M

Title:

A high-resolution structure of the EF-hand domain of human polycystin-2.

Journal:

Protein Sci. 2014 Jul 2. doi: 10.1002/pro.2513.

Abstract:

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects over 1:1000 of the worldwide population and is caused by mutations in two genes, PKD1 and PKD2. PKD2 encodes a 968-amino acid membrane spanning protein, Polycystin-2 (PC2), that is a member of the TRP ion channel family. The C-terminal cytoplasmic tail contains an EF-hand motif followed by a short coiled-coil domain. We have determined the structure of the EF-hand region of PC-2 using NMR spectroscopy. The use of different boundaries compared with those used in previous studies, have enabled us to determine a high resolution structure and show that the EF hand motif forms a standard calcium-binding pocket. The affinity of this pocket for calcium has been measured and mutants that both decrease and increase its affinity for the metal ion have been created.