@article {2546,
	title = {Ca2+ binding by domain 2 plays a critical role in the activation and stabilization of gelsolin},
	journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
	volume = {106},
	number = {33},
	year = {2009},
	note = {ISI Document Delivery No.: 484WETimes Cited: 5Cited Reference Count: 30Nag, Shalini Ma, Qing Wang, Hui Chumnarnsilpa, Sakesit Lee, Wei Lin Larsson, Marten Kannan, Balakrishnan Hernandez-Valladarez, Maria Burtnick, Leslie D. Robinson, Robert C.},
	month = {Aug},
	pages = {13713-13718},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {Gelsolin consists of six homologous domains (G1-G6), each containing a conserved Ca-binding site. Occupation of a subset of these sites enables gelsolin to sever and cap actin filaments in a Ca-dependent manner. Here, we present the structures of Ca-free human gelsolin and of Ca-bound human G1-G3 in a complex with actin. These structures closely resemble those determined previously for equine gelsolin. However, the G2 Ca-binding site is occupied in the human G1-G3/actin structure, whereas it is vacant in the equine version. In-depth comparison of the Ca-free and Ca-activated, actin-bound human gelsolin structures suggests G2 and G6 to be cooperative in binding Ca2+ and responsible for opening the G2-G6 latch to expose the F-actin-binding site on G2. Mutational analysis of the G2 and G6 Ca-binding sites demonstrates their interdependence in maintaining the compact structure in the absence of calcium. Examination of Ca binding by G2 in human G1-G3/actin reveals that the Ca2+ locks the G2-G3 interface. Thermal denaturation studies of G2-G3 indicate that Ca binding stabilizes this fragment, driving it into the active conformation. The G2 Ca-binding site is mutated in gelsolin from familial amyloidosis (Finnish-type) patients. This disease initially proceeds through protease cleavage of G2, ultimately to produce a fragment that forms amyloid fibrils. The data presented here support a mechanism whereby the loss of Ca binding by G2 prolongs the lifetime of partially activated, intermediate conformations in which the protease cleavage site is exposed.},
	keywords = {actin, AMYLOIDOGENESIS, biosynthesis, calcium, calcium activated, calcium dependent, FAMILIAL AMYLOIDOSIS, IDENTIFICATION, PLASMA GELSOLIN, PROTEIN, SITE, TERMINAL HALF, TIRF},
	isbn = {0027-8424},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://000269078700018},
	author = {Nag, S. and Ma, Q. and Wang, H. and Chumnarnsilpa, S. and Lee, W. L. and Larsson, M. and Kannan, B. and Hernandez-Valladarez, M. and Burtnick, L. D. and Robinson, R. C.}
}
