The NMR structure of the domain II of a chloroplastic NifU-like protein OsNifU1A

J Biomol NMR. 2007 Jun;38(2):161-4. doi: 10.1007/s10858-007-9155-9. Epub 2007 Apr 13.

Abstract

NifU-like proteins are a highly conserved protein that serves as the scaffold for assembly of Fe-S clusters. Chloroplastic NifU-like proteins have tandem NifU like domains, named domain I and domain II. Although the amino acid sequences of these domains are very similar to each other, the predicted functional region for the Fe-S cluster assembly, the CXXC motif, exists only in domain I. The structure of the domain II of chloroplastic NifU-like protein OsNifU1A has an alpha-beta sandwich structure containing two alpha helices located on one side of the beta-sheet. The electrostatic surface potential of OsNifU1A domain II is predominantly positively charged. Chloroplastic NifU-like proteins are targeted to ferredoxin for transferring the Fe-S cluster. The ferredoxin presents an overall negatively charged surface, which may evoke an electrostatic association with OsNifU1A domain II.

MeSH terms

  • Chloroplasts / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / methods*
  • Oryza / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Plant Proteins