title: ESR study on calcineurin.
abstract: X-band electron spin resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the binding of Mn2+ to the apo-forms of calcineurin and its A and B subunits. The results indicated the presence of 2 Mn2+ binding sites of different affinities (20 mumol/L and 60 mumol/L) in the calcineurin A subunit and 4 Mn2+ binding sites in the calcineurin subunit B, 2 high affinity and 2 low affinity binding sites with Kd's of 4 mumol/L and 90 mumol/L, respectively. Interestingly and quite surprisingly, Mn2+ binding to the holoenzyme was characterized by only 2 binding sites with Kd's of 7 mumol/L and 33 mumol/L. However, in the presence of calmodulin about 10 Mn2+ sites were detected, and the Mn2+ calmodulin-calcineurin complex exhibited enzymatic activity. These results, based on direct spectral measurements of the metal ligand, demostrate that Mn2+ binds to both free subunits of calcineurin in a manner distinct from binding to the holoenzyme. Also, the data suggest that conformational changes occur upon heterodimer formation and association of the holoenzyme with the regulatory protein calmodulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Beijing Normal University, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D019703:Calcineurin; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D008345:Manganese; D019703:Calcineurin; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases