Biochemistry, Department of
Date of this Version
12-21-2007
Abstract
Selenium is a trace element with significant biomedical potential. It is essential in mammals due to its occurrence in several proteins in the form of selenocysteine (Sec). One of the most abundant mamma¬lian Sec-containing proteins is selenoprotein W (SelW). This protein of unknown function has a broad expression pattern and contains a candidate CXXU (where U represents Sec) redox motif. Here, we re¬port the solution structure of the Sec13 →Cys variant of mouse SelW determined through high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The protein has a thioredoxin-like fold with the CXXU motif located in an exposed loop similarly to the redox-active site in thioredoxin. Protein dynam¬ics studies revealed the rigidity of the protein backbone and mobility of two external loops and suggested a role of these loops in interaction with SelW partners. Molecular modeling of structures of other mem¬bers of the Rdx family based on the SelW structure identified new con¬served features in these proteins, including an aromatic cluster and in¬teracting loops. Our previous study suggested an interaction between SelW and 14-3-3 proteins. In the present work, with the aid of NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrated specificity of this interaction and iden¬tified mobile loops in SelW as interacting surfaces. This finding sug¬gests that 14-3-3 are redox-regulated proteins.
Comments
Published in Journal of Biological Chemistry 282:51 (December 21, 2007), pp. 37036-37044; doi 10.1074/jbc.M705410200 Copyright © 2007 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. Used by permission.