Publication Abstract from PubMed
Human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) transports sex steroids in blood and regulates their access to target tissues. In biological fluids, SHBG exists as a homodimer and each monomer comprises two laminin G-like domains (G domains). The crystal structure of the N-terminal G domain of SHBG in complex with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone at 1.55 A resolution reveals both the architecture of the steroid-binding site and the quaternary structure of the dimer. We also show that G domains have jellyroll topology and are structurally related to pentraxin. In each SHBG monomer, the steroid intercalates into a hydrophobic pocket within the beta-sheet sandwich. The steroid and a 20 A distant calcium ion are not located at the dimer interface. Instead, two separate steroid-binding pockets and calcium-binding sites exist per dimer. The structure displays intriguing disorder for loop segment Pro130-Arg135. In all other jellyroll proteins, this loop is well ordered. If modelled accordingly, it covers the steroid-binding site and could thereby regulate access of ligands to the binding pocket.
Crystal structure of human sex hormone-binding globulin: steroid transport by a laminin G-like domain.,Grishkovskaya I, Avvakumov GV, Sklenar G, Dales D, Hammond GL, Muller YA EMBO J. 2000 Feb 15;19(4):504-12. PMID:10675319[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
