Linked Life Data

11502221

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/11502221

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
16
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-8-14
pubmed:abstractText
Dystroglycan is a receptor for extracellular matrix proteins that plays a crucial role during embryogenesis in addition to adult tissue stabilization. A precursor product of a single gene is post-translationally cleaved to form two different subunits, alpha and beta. The extracellular alpha-dystroglycan is a membrane-associated, highly glycosylated protein that binds to various extracellular matrix molecules, whereas the transmembrane beta-dystroglycan binds, via its cytosolic domain, to dystrophin and many other proteins. alpha- and beta-Dystroglycan interact tightly but noncovalently. We have previously shown that the N-terminal region of beta-dystroglycan, beta-DG(654-750), binds to the C-terminal region of murine alpha-dystroglycan independently from glycosylation. Preparing a series of deleted recombinant fragments and using solid-phase binding assays, the C-terminal sequence of alpha-dystroglycan containing the binding epitope for beta-dystroglycan has been defined more precisely. We found that a region of 36 amino acids, from position 550-585, is required for binding the extracellular region, amino acids 654-750 of beta-dystroglycan. Recently, a dystroglycan-like gene was identified in Drosophila that showed a moderate degree of conservation with vertebrate dystroglycan (31% identity, 48% similarity). Surprisingly, the Drosophila sequence contains a region showing a higher degree of identity and conservation (45% and 66%) that coincides with the 550-585 sequence of vertebrate alpha-dystroglycan. We have expressed this Drosophila dystroglycan fragment and measured its binding to the extracellular region of vertebrate (murine) beta-dystroglycan (Kd = 6 +/- 1 microM). These data confirm the proper identification of the beta-dystroglycan binding epitope and stress the importance of this region during evolution. This finding might help the rational design of dystroglycan-specific binding drugs, that could have important biomedical applications.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0014-2956
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
268
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
4590-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-7-23
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Identification of the beta-dystroglycan binding epitope within the C-terminal region of alpha-dystroglycan.
pubmed:affiliation
Center for Receptor Chemistry (CNR) Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't