StAR-related transfer domain

START domain
Identifiers
Symbol START
Pfam PF01852
InterPro IPR002913
SMART START
SCOP 1em2
SUPERFAMILY 1em2
TCDB 9.B.64
OPM superfamily 147
OPM protein 1ln1
CDD cd00177
START

star-related lipid transport domain of mln64
Identifiers
Symbol START
Pfam PF01852
Pfam clan CL0209
InterPro IPR002913
SMART START
SCOP 1em2
SUPERFAMILY 1em2

START (StAR-related lipid-transfer) is a lipid-binding domain in StAR, HD-ZIP and signalling proteins.[1] The archetypical domain is found in StAR (Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein), a mitochondrial protein that is synthesized in steroid-producing cells.[2] StAR and initiates steroid production by mediating the delivery of cholesterol to the first enzyme in steroidogenic pathway. The START domain is critical for this activity, perhaps through the binding of cholesterol. Following the discovery of StAR, 15 START-domain-containing proteins (termed STARD1 through STARD15) were subsequently identified in vertebrates as well as other that are related.

Thousands of proteins containing at least one START domain have been determined in invertebrates, bacteria and plants to form a larger superfamily, variously known as START, Bet v1-like or SRPBCC (START/RHOalphaC/PITP/Bet v1/CoxG/CalC) domain proteins, all of which bind hydrophobic ligands. In the case of plants, many of the START proteins fall into the category of putative lipid/sterol-binding homeodomain (HD) transcription factors or HD-START proteins.[3]

Representatives of the START domain family bind different substances or ligands such as sterols (e.g., StAR or STARD1) and lipids like phosphatidylcholine (phosphatidylcholine transfer protein, also called PCTP or STARD2) and have enzymatic activities. Ligand binding by the START domain in multidomain proteins can also regulate the activities of the other domains, such as the RhoGAP domain, the homeodomain and the thioesterase domain.[1][4]

Structure

The crystal structure of START domain of human MLN64 shows an alpha/beta fold built around a U-shaped incomplete beta-barrel. Most importantly, the interior of the protein encompasses a 26 × 12 × 11-Angstrom hydrophobic tunnel that is apparently large enough to bind a single cholesterol molecule.[5] The START domain structure revealed an unexpected similarity to that of the birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and to bacterial polyketide cyclases/aromatases.[4][5]

Human proteins containing the START domain

START domain-containing proteins in the human are divided into five subfamilies. An exception is StarD9 whose activity remains unknown. Other proteins also exist in the human with domains that are members of the START-based superfamily such as PITP, but are not part of the START domain itself.

Cholesterol/oxysterol binding StarD1/D3 subfamily

These proteins are primarily concerned with cholesterol transport

StAR (STARD1)
MLN64 (STARD3)

StarD4 subfamily

These proteins are involved in cholesterol and oxysterol transport

STARD4
STARD5
STARD6

Phospholipid/sphingolipid binding StarD2 subfamily

PCTP (STARD2)
STARD7
STARD10
COL4A3BP (STARD11)

SAM-RhoGAP-START subfamily

These proteins contain both the START domain and Rho-GTPase signaling activity

STARD8 (DLC-3)
DLC1 (STARD12)
STARD13 (DLC-2)

Acyl-CoA thioesterase subfamily

The members of this subfamily possess the START domain and thioesterase activity

ACOT11 (STARD14)
ACOT12 (STARD15)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ponting CP, Aravind L (1999). "START: a lipid-binding domain in StAR, HD-ZIP and signalling proteins". Trends Biochem. Sci. 24 (4): 130–132. doi:10.1016/S0968-0004(99)01362-6. PMID 10322415.
  2. Clark BJ, Wells J, King SR, Stocco DM (1994). "The purification, cloning, and expression of a novel luteinizing hormone-induced mitochondrial protein in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Characterization of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)". J. Biol. Chem. 269 (45): 28314–28322. PMID 7961770.
  3. Schrick K, Nguyen D, Karlowski WM, Mayer KF (2004). "START lipid/sterol-binding domains are amplified in plants and are predominantly associated with homeodomain transcription factors". Genome Biol. 5: R41. doi:10.1186/gb-2004-5-6-r41. PMC 463074. PMID 15186492.
  4. 1 2 Koonin EV, Aravind L, Iyer LM (2001). "Adaptations of the helix-grip fold for ligand binding and catalysis in the START domain superfamily". Proteins 43 (2): 134–144. doi:10.1002/1097-0134(20010501)43:2<134::AID-PROT1025>3.0.CO;2-I. PMID 11276083.
  5. 1 2 Hurley JH, Tsujishita Y (2000). "Structure and lipid transport mechanism of a StAR-related domain". Nat. Struct. Biol. 7 (5): 408–414. doi:10.1038/75192. PMID 10802740.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Pfam and InterPro IPR002913

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