Immunocytochemical localization and crystal structure of human frequenin (neuronal calcium sensor 1)

J Biol Chem. 2001 Apr 13;276(15):11949-55. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M009373200. Epub 2000 Nov 22.

Abstract

Frequenin, a member of a large family of myristoyl-switch calcium-binding proteins, functions as a calcium-ion sensor to modulate synaptic activity and secretion. We show that human frequenin colocalizes with ARF1 GTPase in COS-7 cells and occurs in similar cellular compartments as the phosphatidylinositol-4-OH kinase PI4Kbeta, the mammalian homolog of the yeast kinase PIK1. In addition, the crystal structure of unmyristoylated, calcium-bound human frequenin has been determined and refined to 1.9 A resolution. The overall fold of frequenin resembles those of neurocalcin and the photoreceptor, recoverin, of the same family, with two pairs of calcium-binding EF hands and three bound calcium ions. Despite the similarities, however, frequenin displays significant structural differences. A large conformational shift of the C-terminal region creates a wide hydrophobic crevice at the surface of frequenin. This crevice, which is unique to frequenin and distinct from the myristoyl-binding box of recoverin, may accommodate a yet unknown protein ligand.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • COS Cells
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA Primers
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • frequenin calcium sensor proteins

Associated data

  • PDB/1G8I