title: Molecular analysis of the interaction of the snake venom rhodocytin with the platelet receptor CLEC-2.
abstract: The Malayan pit viper, Calloselasma rhodostoma, produces a potent venom toxin, rhodocytin (aggretin) which causes platelet aggregation. Rhodocytin is a ligand for the receptor CLEC-2 on the surface of platelets. The interaction of these two molecules initiates a signaling pathway which results in platelet activation and aggregation. We have previously solved the crystal structures of CLEC-2 and of rhodocytin, and have proposed models by which tetrameric rhodocytin may interact with either two monomers of CLEC-2, or with one or two copies of dimeric CLEC-2. In the current study we use a range of approaches to analyze the molecular interfaces and dynamics involved in the models of the interaction of rhodocytin with either one or two copies of dimeric CLEC-2, and their implications for clustering of CLEC-2 on the platelet surface.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge/ 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK. aaw36@cam.ac.uk
authors: Aleksandra A
authors: AA
authors: Watson
authors: Christopher A
authors: CA
authors: O'Callaghan
mesh_terms: D017836:Agkistrodon; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008024:Ligands; D014757:Viper Venoms; C112292:rhodocytin protein, Calloselasma rhodostoma