title: A molecular model for the tumour-associated antigen, p97, suggests a Zn-binding function.
abstract: The primary structure of p97 (melanotransferrin) has been compared with other members of the transferrin superfamily. A molecular structure of p97 has been modelled based on the crystal structure of diferric rabbit serum transferrin. The most significant amino acid substitutions in p97 are almost exclusively limited to only two regions; the C-lobe iron-binding cleft and the interlobe contact region. The latter includes within the N-terminal lobe a Zn-binding consensus sequence found in metallopeptidases, and in the C-terminal lobe a glutamic acid residue (Glu-394) capable of completing a potential thermolysin-like Zn-binding site. Thus, p97 may have a Zn-binding potential, unique amongst the transferrin superfamily.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física y Ciência dos Materials, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Garratt
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jhotí
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015032:Zinc