The crystal structure of the carboxy-terminal dimerization domain of htpG, the Escherichia coli Hsp90, reveals a potential substrate binding site

Structure. 2004 Jun;12(6):1087-97. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2004.03.020.

Abstract

Hsp90 is a ubiquitous, well-conserved molecular chaperone involved in the folding and stabilization of diverse proteins. Beyond its capacity for general protein folding, Hsp90 influences a wide array of cellular signaling pathways that underlie key biological and disease processes. It has been proposed that Hsp90 functions as a molecular clamp, dimerizing through its carboxy-terminal domain and utilizing ATP binding and hydrolysis to drive large conformational changes including transient dimerization of the amino-terminal and middle domains. We have determined the 2.6 A X-ray crystal structure of the carboxy-terminal domain of htpG, the Escherichia coli Hsp90. This structure reveals a novel fold and that dimerization is dependent upon the formation of a four-helix bundle. Remarkably, proximal to the helical dimerization motif, each monomer projects a short helix into solvent. The location, flexibility, and amphipathic character of this helix suggests that it may play a role in substrate binding and hence chaperone activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimerization
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / chemistry*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HtpG protein, E coli
  • HtpG protein, bacteria
  • Adenosine Triphosphate

Associated data

  • PDB/1HK7
  • PDB/1SF8