What are domains and motifs?
Protein motifs are areas of the coding DNA of a protein that have highly conserved sequences. These areas are of high importance to the primary structure of the protein and can help point to protein function. Domains are sequences of a protein that perform a specific purpose, the functional areas of the protein. Whether their purpose is binding to DNA, activating other proteins, or a number of other options, each domain has a specific function within the cell and is of importance to the protein.
What are the domains of EFHC1?
Using the website PFAM and the EFHC1 protein sequence, the domains within the EFHC1 protein were found. There are only two types of domains within the protein - an EF hand domain and DM10 domain.
The EF hand domain is depicted in the image to the right, and consists of two alpha loop helixes and a connecting loop. This is called the EF hand because of its resemblance to the human hand. EF hand domains are able to bind to calcium ions within the cell, and thus are believed to be involved in calcium regulation or calcium mediated signaling [1] . The other domain found within EFHC1 is the DM10 domain, which occurs in each organism as a triple repeat. Researchers have yet to determine the function of DM10 [2].
The EF hand domain is depicted in the image to the right, and consists of two alpha loop helixes and a connecting loop. This is called the EF hand because of its resemblance to the human hand. EF hand domains are able to bind to calcium ions within the cell, and thus are believed to be involved in calcium regulation or calcium mediated signaling [1] . The other domain found within EFHC1 is the DM10 domain, which occurs in each organism as a triple repeat. Researchers have yet to determine the function of DM10 [2].
Analysis:
As shown in the image above, there is little variance in protein domains throughout different species. Humans, chimps, mice, chicken, and even green algae all contain the triple repeat of DM10 domains as well as the EF hand domain. The model organism zebrafish and the mosquito EFHC1 proteins are lacking the EF hand domain, consisting of only the triple repeat DM10 domains. This process shows how well conserved the EFHC1 domains, and specifically the DM10 domains, are throughout species and speak to the importance of the DM10 domains which are necessary for every organism's protein. Research into the function of these unanalyzed DM10 domains is very important in aiding our understanding of EFHC1 involvement of epilepsy and is an important avenue for future research.
As shown in the image above, there is little variance in protein domains throughout different species. Humans, chimps, mice, chicken, and even green algae all contain the triple repeat of DM10 domains as well as the EF hand domain. The model organism zebrafish and the mosquito EFHC1 proteins are lacking the EF hand domain, consisting of only the triple repeat DM10 domains. This process shows how well conserved the EFHC1 domains, and specifically the DM10 domains, are throughout species and speak to the importance of the DM10 domains which are necessary for every organism's protein. Research into the function of these unanalyzed DM10 domains is very important in aiding our understanding of EFHC1 involvement of epilepsy and is an important avenue for future research.
References:
[1] Kawasaki, H. Structural differences among subfamilies of EF-hand proteins: A view from the pseudo-two fold symmetry axis. Proteins, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24638959
[2] King, Stephen. Axonemal Protofilament Ribbons, DM10 Domains, and the Link to Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton. Volume 63. 2006. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/cm.20129/asset/20129_ftp.pdf?v=1&t=hturpcy2&s=ac620ef3194976e78700d12e0d250a790d2c6f20
Image 1: http://chemistry.umeche.maine.edu/MAT500/Proteins8.html