Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Amalgam (Ama) is a secreted neuronal adhesion protein that contains three tandem immunoglobulin domains. It has both homophilic and heterophilic cell adhesion properties, and is required for axon guidance and fasciculation during early stages of Drosophila development. Here, we report its biophysical characterization and use small-angle x-ray scattering to determine its low-resolution structure in solution. The biophysical studies revealed that Ama forms dimers in solution, and that its secondary and tertiary structures are typical for the immunoglobulin superfamily. Ab initio and rigid-body modeling by small-angle x-ray scattering revealed a distinct V-shaped dimer in which the two monomer chains are aligned parallel to each other, with the dimerization interface being formed by domain 1. These data provide a structural basis for the dual adhesion characteristics of Ama. Thus, the dimeric structure explains its homophilic adhesion properties. Its V shape suggests a mechanism for its interaction with its receptor, the single-pass transmembrane adhesion protein neurotactin, in which each "arm" of Ama binds to the extracellular domain of neurotactin, thus promoting its clustering on the outer face of the plasma membrane.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.bpj.2009.07.045

Type

Journal article

Journal

Biophys J

Publication Date

21/10/2009

Volume

97

Pages

2316 - 2326

Keywords

Animals, Circular Dichroism, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Immunoglobulins, Models, Chemical, Models, Molecular, Nonlinear Dynamics, Protein Multimerization, Protein Structure, Quaternary, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Scattering, Small Angle, Spectrometry, Fluorescence, Temperature, Ultracentrifugation, X-Ray Diffraction