Calmodulin binding domain explained

Symbol:CaMBD
CaMBD
Pfam:PF02888
Interpro:IPR004178
Scop:1kkd

In molecular biology, calmodulin binding domain (CaMBD) is a protein domain found in small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels). These channels are independent of voltage and gated solely by intracellular Ca2+. They are heteromeric complexes that comprise pore-forming alpha-subunits and the Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin (CaM).[1] CaM binds to the SK channel through the CaMBD, which is located in an intracellular region of the alpha-subunit immediately carboxy-terminal to the pore. Channel opening is triggered when Ca2+ binds the EF hands in the N-lobe of CaM. The structure of this domain complexed with CaM is known. This domain forms an elongated dimer with a CaM molecule bound at each end; each CaM wraps around three alpha-helices, two from one CaMBD subunit and one from the other.

Notes and References

  1. Schumacher MA, Rivard AF, Bachinger HP, Adelman JP . Structure of the gating domain of a Ca2+-activated K+ channel complexed with Ca2+/calmodulin . Nature . 410 . 6832 . 1120–4 . April 2001 . 11323678 . 10.1038/35074145 . 2001Natur.410.1120S . 205016620 .