A thermoacidophile-specific protein family, DUF3211, functions as a fatty acid carrier with novel binding mode.

ABSTRACT: STK_08120 is a member of the thermoacidophile-specific DUF3211 protein family from Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7. Its molecular function remains obscure, and sequence similarities for obtaining functional remarks are not available. In this study, the crystal structure of STK_08120 was determined at 1.79-Å resolution to predict its probable function using structure similarity searches. The structure adopts an α/β structure of a helix-grip fold, which is found in the START domain proteins with cavities for hydrophobic substrates or ligands. The detailed structural features implied that fatty acids are the primary ligand candidates for STK_08120, and binding assays revealed that the protein bound long-chain saturated fatty acids (>C14) and their trans-unsaturated types with an affinity equal t

SUBMITTER: Miyakawa T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3754605 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature