CrmA is a viral serpin that inhibits both cysteine and serine proteinases involved in the regulation of host inflammatory and apoptosis processes. It differs from other members of the serpin superfamily by having a shorter reactive center loop as well as possessing an additional highly charged antiparallel beta-strand of beta-sheet A, whose sequence and length are unique. SERine Proteinase INhibitors (serpins) exhibit conformational polymorphism shifting from native to cleaved, latent, delta, or polymorphic forms. Many serpins, such as antitrypsin and antichymotrypsin, function as serine protease inhibitors which regulate blood coagulation cascades. Non-inhibitory serpins perform many diverse functions such as chaperoning proteins or transporting hormones. Serpins are of medical interest because mutants have been associated with blood clotting disorders, emphysema, cirrhosis, and dementia. A classification based on evolutionary relatedness has resulted in the assignment of serpins to 16 clades designated A-P along with some orphans.
Comment:depending on the conformational state, the RC loop is surface accessible in the active form or buried and inserted as the central beta strand in the inactive form.
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