title: Mutations and modifications support a 'pitted-flexiball' model for alpha-crystallin.
abstract: alpha-Crystallin is renown for resisting crystallization and electron microscopic image analysis. The spatial conformation thus remaining elusive, the authors explored the structure and chaperone functioning by analyzing the effects of site-directed mutagenesis, the properties of naturally occurring aberrant forms of alpha-crystallin and the influence of chemical modifications. The authors observed that the globular multimeric structure, as well as the chaperoning capacity are remarkably tolerant towards changes and modifications in the primary structure. The essential features of the quaternary structure--globular shape, flexibility, highly polar exterior and accessible hydrophobic surface pockets--support a 'pitted-flexiball' model, which combines tetrameric subunit building blocks in an open micelle-like arrangement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Smulders
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Boekel
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: de Jong
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002417:Cattle; D003459:Crystallins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019577:Mole Rats; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D018832:Molecular Chaperones