Structure of mare apolactoferrin: the N and C lobes are in the closed form.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research article presents a detailed study of the structure of mare apolactoferrin (MALT), a type of protein in the transferrin family, which is known for its iron-binding ability. Using the structure of mare diferric lactoferrin (MDLT) as a reference model, the researchers found that the MALT protein has two distinct sections, or “lobes,” both of which have a closed form.
Structure Determination and Comparison
- The researchers determined the structure of MALT at 3.8 A resolution through the molecular-replacement method and used the structure of MDLT as the search model.
- Within the MDLT structure, two iron-binding sites exist: one in the N-terminal lobe and one in the C-terminal lobe.
- The structure of MALT has been refined to a final R factor of 0.20 across all data.
- Though the structure of MALT and MDLT are identical, differences were observed when compared to the structures of human apolactoferrin (HALT) and duck apo-ovotransferrin (DAOT).
Distinct Forms of the Transferrin Family
- In HALT, the N lobe assumes an open form while the C lobe exhibits a closed form, and in DAOT, both the N and C lobes assume an open form.
- This suggests that the structural arrangement within these proteins is significant as it relates to their specific biological functions.
- Three forms are observed in native apoproteins of the transferrin family: MALT with both lobes in closed forms, HALT with the N lobe open and the C lobe closed, and DAOT with both lobes open.
Iron Binding and Structural Stability
- All these proteins achieve a converging form when iron is bound to them, indicating a unique and efficient method of binding iron.
- The interface between the N and C lobes, formed by N1-C1 contact in the core of the molecule, does not change significantly, showing a high degree of structural stability.
In summation, the research elucidates the unique structural formats of proteins in the transferrin family and emphasizes their inherent ability to bind iron efficiently. The structure and function relationship these proteins hold is potentially an important factor in understanding their biological functions.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110 029, India.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Apoproteins / chemistry
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Lactoferrin / chemistry
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Conformation
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Kumar S, Sharma D, Kumar R, Kumar R. Electrostatic effects control the stability and iron release kinetics of ovotransferrin.. J Biol Inorg Chem 2014 Aug;19(6):1009-24.
- Sharma S, Sinha M, Kaushik S, Kaur P, Singh TP. C-lobe of lactoferrin: the whole story of the half-molecule.. Biochem Res Int 2013;2013:271641.
- Rinaldo D, Field MJ. A computational study of the open and closed forms of the N-lobe human serum transferrin apoprotein.. Biophys J 2003 Dec;85(6):3485-501.
- Baker HM, Anderson BF, Baker EN. Dealing with iron: common structural principles in proteins that transport iron and heme.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003 Apr 1;100(7):3579-83.