Calbindin D28k EF-hand ligand binding and oligomerization: four high-affinity sites--three modes of action

Biochemistry. 2005 Oct 18;44(41):13522-32. doi: 10.1021/bi050861q.

Abstract

Calbindin D28k, a highly conserved protein with Ca2+-sensing and Ca2+-buffering capabilities, is abundant in brain and sensory neurons. This protein contains six EF-hand subdomains, four of which bind Ca2+ with high affinity. Calbindin D28k can be reconstituted from six synthetic peptides corresponding to the six EF-hands, indicating a single-domain structure with multiple interactions between the EF-hand subdomains. In this study, we have undertaken a detailed characterization of the Ca2+-binding and oligomerization properties of each individual EF-hand peptide using CD spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation. Under the conditions tested, EF2 is monomeric and does not bind Ca2+, whereas EF6, which binds Ca2+ weakly, aggregates severely. We have therefore focused this study on the high-affinity binding sites, EF-hands 1, 3, 4, and 5. Our sedimentation equilibrium data show that, in the presence of Ca2+, EF-hands 1, 3, 4, and 5 all form dimers in solution in which the distribution between the monomer, dimer, and higher order oligomers differs. The processes of Ca2+ binding and oligomerization are linked to different degrees, and three main mechanisms emerge. For EF-hands 1 and 5, the dimer binds Ca2+ more strongly than the monomer and Ca2+ binding drives dimerization. For EF-hand 4, dimer formation requires only one of the monomers to be Ca2+-bound. In this case, the Ca2+ affinity is independent of dimerization. For EF-hand 3, dimerization occurs both in the absence and presence of Ca2+, while oligomerization increases in the presence of Ca2+.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Calbindins
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Chickens
  • Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs*
  • Ligands
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Structural
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / chemistry*
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / metabolism
  • Ultracentrifugation

Substances

  • Calbindins
  • Ligands
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G
  • Calcium