Calcium-Binding Proteins

Abstract

This chapter describes calcium-binding proteins. Calcium is of widespread and fundamental importance in biochemistry because the calcium ion functions as a second messenger—that is, one whose signals are propagated by proteins specifically evolved for this purpose. The chapter divides the proteins (or the protein domains) into: (1) intracellular, (2) calcium mediated membrane bound, and (3) extracellular. The EF hand is by far the most common motif for intracellular calcium- binding proteins. It is an approximately 30 amino acid long peptide chain composed of a central calcium-binding loop flanked by two alpha helixes. Both nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography played key roles in understanding the target binding of calmodulin. The functional role and interactions with target proteins remain an area of intense study. One target protein similar to calcyclin has been identified and is expressed predominantly in the brain.

Published in

Advances in inorganic chemistry
1998, volume: 46, pages: 441-494

SLU Authors

• Finn, Bryan

  • Lund University

UKÄ Subject classification

Biophysics

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0898-8838(08)60153-1

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132591