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Publication Abstract from PubMed

In plants, a family of ubiquitous proteins named non-specific lipid-transfer proteins (ns-LTPs) facilitates the transfer of fatty acids, phospholipids and steroids between membranes. Recent data suggest that these secreted proteins play a key role in the formation of cuticular wax layers and in defence mechanisms against pathogens. In this study, X-ray crystallography has been used to examine the structural details of the interaction between a wheat type 2 ns-LTP and a lipid, L-alpha-palmitoyl-phosphatidyl glycerol. This crystal structure was solved ab initio at 1.12 A resolution by direct methods. The typical alpha-helical bundle fold of this protein is maintained by four disulfide bridges and delineates two hydrophobic cavities. The inner surface of the main cavity is lined by non-polar residues that provide a hydrophobic environment for the palmitoyl moiety of the lipid. The head-group region of this lipid protrudes from the surface and makes several polar interactions with a conserved patch of basic residues at the entrance of the pocket. The alkyl chain of a second lipid is bound within an adjacent smaller cavity. The structure shows that binding of the lipid tails to the protein involves extensive hydrophobic interactions.

Structure of a liganded type 2 non-specific lipid-transfer protein from wheat and the molecular basis of lipid binding.,Hoh F, Pons JL, Gautier MF, de Lamotte F, Dumas C Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2005 Apr;61(Pt 4):397-406. Epub 2005, Mar 24. PMID:15805594^[2]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.