title: Visualizing a new binding site of ncd-motor domain on tubulin.
abstract: Ncd is a microtubule minus-end directed motor of the kinesin superfamily. Previously it has been shown that ncd and kinesin motor domains share the same major binding site on microtubules. Here we report a three-dimensional EM reconstruction of negatively stained two-dimensional Zn-induced tubulin crystal sheets (Zn-sheets) decorated with the ncd motor domain at a resolution of 16 A. This work has revealed a second specific binding site for the ncd motor domain. The motor binding site on the tubulin Zn-sheets spans both alpha and beta tubulin subunits. This binding site is located at a position different from the previously identified ncd binding site on microtubules and may play a role in motor function.
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Sablin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nogales
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fletterick
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Downing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D003461:Crystallography / Q000379:methods; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004583:Electrons; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C066696:ncd protein, Drosophila; D016547:Kinesins; D015032:Zinc