title: Structures, functions and molecular evolution of the penta-EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins.
abstract: Penta-EF-hand (PEF) proteins comprise a family of Ca(2+)-binding proteins that have five repetitive EF-hand motifs. Among the eight alpha-helices (alpha1-alpha8), alpha4 and alpha7 link EF2-EF3 and EF4-EF5, respectively. In addition to the structural similarities in the EF-hand regions, the PEF protein family members have common features: (i) dimerization through unpaired C-terminal EF5s, (ii) possession of hydrophobic Gly/Pro-rich N-terminal domains, and (iii) Ca(2+)-dependent translocation to membranes. Based on comparison of amino acid sequences, mammalian PEF proteins are classified into two groups: Group I PEF proteins (ALG-2 and peflin) and Group II PEF proteins (Ca(2+)-dependent protease calpain subfamily members, sorcin and grancalcin). The Group I genes have also been found in lower animals, plants, fungi and protists. Recent findings of specific interacting proteins have started to gradually unveil the functions of the noncatalytic mammalian PEF proteins.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Department of Applied Molecular Biosciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. mmaki@agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitaura
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkouchi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D019281:Dimerization; D020832:EF Hand Motifs; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals