title: The CH-domain of calponin does not determine the modes of calponin binding to F-actin.
abstract: Many actin-binding proteins have been observed to have a modular architecture. One of the most abundant modules is the calponin-homology (CH) domain, found as tandem repeats in proteins that cross-link actin filaments (such as fimbrin, spectrin and alpha-actinin) or link the actin cytoskeleton to intermediate filaments (such as plectin). In proteins such as the eponymous calponin, IQGAP1, and Scp1, a single CH-domain exists, but there has been some controversy over whether this domain binds to actin filaments. A previous three-dimensional reconstruction of the calponin-F-actin complex has led to the conclusion that the visualized portion of calponin bound to actin belongs to its amino-terminal homology (CH) domain. We show, using a calponin fragment lacking the CH-domain, that this domain is not bound to F-actin, and cannot be positioning calponin on F-actin as hypothesized. Further, using classification methods, we show a multiplicity in cooperative modes of binding of calponin to F-actin, similar to what has been observed for other actin-binding proteins such as tropomyosin and cofilin. Our results suggest that the form and function of the structurally conserved CH-domain found in many other actin-binding proteins have diverged. This has broad implications for inferring function from the presence of structurally conserved domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0733, USA.
authors.forename: Vitold E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Galkin
authors.forename: Albina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlova
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattoum
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Egelman
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000096985:Calponins