Human Oxysterol binding protein and OSBP-related protein 4 Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain
Human OSBP is proposed to function is sterol-dependent regulation of ERK dephosphorylation and sphingomyelin synthesis as well as modulation of insulin signaling and hepatic lipogenesis. It contains a N-terminal PH domain, a FFAT motif (two phenylalanines in an acidic tract), and a C-terminal OSBP-related domain. OSBPs and Osh1p PH domains specifically localize to the Golgi apparatus in a PtdIns4P-dependent manner. ORP4 is proposed to function in Vimentin-dependent sterol transport and/or signaling. Human ORP4 has 2 forms, a long (ORP4L) and a short (ORP4S). ORP4L contains a N-terminal PH domain, a FFAT motif (two phenylalanines in an acidic tract), and a C-terminal OSBP-related domain. ORP4S is truncated and contains only an OSBP-related domain. Oxysterol binding proteins are a multigene family that is conserved in yeast, flies, worms, mammals and plants. They all contain a C-terminal oxysterol binding domain, and most contain an N-terminal PH domain. OSBP PH domains bind to membrane phosphoinositides and thus likely play an important role in intracellular targeting. They are members of the oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) family which includes OSBP, OSBP-related proteins (ORP), Goodpasture antigen binding protein (GPBP), and Four phosphate adaptor protein 1 (FAPP1). They have a wide range of purported functions including sterol transport, cell cycle control, pollen development and vessicle transport from Golgi recognize both PI lipids and ARF proteins. PH domains have diverse functions, but in general are involved in targeting proteins to the appropriate cellular location or in the interaction with a binding partner. They share little sequence conservation, but all have a common fold, which is electrostatically polarized. Less than 10% of PH domains bind phosphoinositide phosphates (PIPs) with high affinity and specificity. PH domains are distinguished from other PIP-binding domains by their specific high-affinity binding to PIPs with two vicinal phosphate groups: PtdIns(3,4)P2, PtdIns(4,5)P2 or PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 which results in targeting some PH domain proteins to the plasma membrane. A few display strong specificity in lipid binding. Any specificity is usually determined by loop regions or insertions in the N-terminus of the domain, which are not conserved across all PH domains. PH domains are found in cellular signaling proteins such as serine/threonine kinase, tyrosine kinases, regulators of G-proteins, endocytotic GTPases, adaptors, as well as cytoskeletal associated molecules and in lipid associated enzymes.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",