Juxtanodin is an intrinsically disordered F-actin-binding protein

Sci Rep. 2012:2:899. doi: 10.1038/srep00899. Epub 2012 Nov 29.

Abstract

Juxtanodin, also called ermin, is an F-actin-binding protein expressed by oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system. While juxtanodin carries a short conserved F-actin-binding segment at its C terminus, it otherwise shares no similarity with known protein sequences. We carried out a structural characterization of recombinant juxtanodin in solution. Juxtanodin turned out to be intrinsically disordered, as evidenced by conventional and synchrotron radiation CD spectroscopy. Small-angle X-ray scattering indicated that juxtanodin is a monomeric, highly elongated, unfolded molecule. Ensemble optimization analysis of the data suggested also the presence of more compact forms of juxtanodin. The C terminus was a strict requirement for co-sedimentation of juxtanodin with microfilaments, but juxtanodin had only mild effects on actin polymerization. The disordered nature of juxtanodin may predict functions as a protein interaction hub, although F-actin is its only currently known binding partner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry*
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Actins / ultrastructure
  • Algorithms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry*
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Software
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Swine
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Actins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Ermn protein, rat
  • F-actin-binding proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Solutions