Calmodulin

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File:Calmodulin.png

Calmodulin 3D structure

File:Flexibility of Calmodulin.png

Flexibility of Calmodulin. Calmodulin can bind to calmodulin-dependent-protein kinase II-alpha (upper left, PDB code=1cm1); it can bind to myosine light chain (lower left, 2bbm); it can bind to edema factor toxin from the anthrax bacteria (right, 1k93) more details...

Calmodulin (CaM) (an abbreviation for CALcium MODULated proteIN) is a calcium-binding protein expressed in all eukaryotic cells. It can bind to and regulate a number of different protein targets, thereby affecting many different cellular functions.

Function

CaM mediates processes such as inflammation, metabolism, apoptosis, muscle contraction, intracellular movement, short-term and long-term memory, nerve growth and the immune response. CaM is expressed in many cell types and can have different subcellular locations, including the cytoplasm, within organelles, or associated with the plasma or organelle membranes. Many of the proteins that CaM binds are unable to bind calcium themselves, and as such use CaM as a calcium sensor and signal transducer. CaM can also make use of the calcium stores in the endoplasmic reticulum, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. CaM undergoes a conformational change upon binding to calcium, which enables it to bind to specific proteins for a specific response. CaM can bind up to four calcium ions, and can undergo post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation and proteolytic cleavage, each of which can potentially modulate its actions. Calmodulin can also bind to edema factor toxin from the anthrax bacteria.

Structure

Calmodulin is a small, acidic protein approximately 148 amino acids long (16706 Dalton) and, as such, is a favorite for testing protein simulation software. It contains four EF-hand "motifs", each of which binds a Ca²⁺ ion. The protein has two approximately symmetrical domains, separated by a flexible "hinge" region. Calcium participates in an intracellular signalling system by acting as a diffusible second messenger to the initial stimuli.

Mechanism

Calcium is bound via the use of the EF hand motif, which supplies an electronegative environment for ion coordination. After calcium binding, hydrophobic methyl groups from methionine residues become exposed on the protein via conformational change. This presents hydrophobic surfaces, which can in turn bind to Basic Amphiphilic Helices (BAA helices) on the target protein. These helices contain complementary hydrophobic regions. The flexibilily of Calmodulin's hinged region allows the molecule to "wrap around" its target. This property allows it to tightly bind to a wide range of different target proteins.

Family members

• Calmodulin 1 (CALM1)
• Calmodulin 2 (CALM2)
• Calmodulin 3 (CALM3)
• Calmodulin-like 1 (CALML1)
• Calmodulin-like 3 (CALML3)
• Calmodulin-like 4 (CALML4)
• Calmodulin-like 5 (CALML5)
• Calmodulin-like 6 (CALML6)

Other calcium-binding proteins

Calmodulin belongs to one of the two main groups of calcium-binding proteins, called EF hand proteins. The other group, called annexins, bind calcium and phospholipid (e.g., lipocortin). Many other proteins bind calcium, although binding calcium may not be considered their principal function in the cell.

See also

• Template:Proteopedia crystal complex between calmodulin and alpha11-spectrin
• Protein kinase
• Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase
• Douglas Stirling

External links

• MeSH Calmodulin
• Template:InterPro
• Jennifer McDowall. Calmodulin. InterPro Protein Archive. URL accessed on 2008-03-22.
• Melanie Nelson, Walter Chazin. Home Page for Calmodulin. EF-Hand Calcium-Binding Proteins Data Library. Vanderbilt University. URL accessed on 2008-03-22.
• Mitsuhiko Ikura. Calmodulin Target Database. Ontario Cancer Institute, University of Toronto. URL accessed on 2008-03-22.

Histology: muscle tissue

skeletal muscle/general: epimysium, fascicle, perimysium, endomysium, muscle fiber, myofibril

sarcomere (a, i, and h bands; z and m lines), myofilaments (thin filament/actin, thick filament/myosin, elastic filament/titin), tropomyosin, troponin

neuromuscular junction, intrafusal muscle fiber, extrafusal muscle fiber, motor unit, muscle spindle, sliding filament mechanism

myoblast, satellite cells, sarcoplasm, sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum, T-tubule

cardiac muscle: myocardium, intercalated disc

smooth muscle: calmodulin, vascular smooth muscle

Template:Calcium-binding proteins