title: PDZ domains-glue and guide.
abstract: PDZ domains are small globular building blocks that are amongst the most abundant protein interaction domains in organisms. Over the past several years an avalanche of data has implicated these modules in the clustering, targeting and routing of associating proteins. An overview is given of the types of interactions displayed by PDZ domains and how this relates to the current knowledge on their spatial structure. Furthermore, the different levels on which PDZ--ligand binding can be regulated and the consequences of PDZ domain-mediated clustering for activity, routing and targeting of interacting proteins will be addressed. Finally, some cell and animal models that illustrate the impact of PDZ domain-containing proteins on (multi-) cellular processes will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Cellular Signalling, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life Sciences, University of Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Ham
authors.forename: Wiljan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hendriks
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C118970:USH1C protein, human; C492262:Ush1c protein, mouse