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2E3P

Crystal structure of CERT START domain in complex with C16-cearmide (P1)

Summary for 2E3P
Entry DOI10.2210/pdb2e3p/pdb
Related2E3M 2E3N 2E3O 2E3Q 2E3R 2E3S
DescriptorLipid-transfer protein CERT, N-((E,2S,3R)-1,3-DIHYDROXYOCTADEC-4-EN-2-YL)PALMITAMIDE (3 entities in total)
Functional Keywordslipid transfer protein, cert, ceramide transfer, lipid transport
Biological sourceHomo sapiens (human)
Total number of polymer chains2
Total formula weight58939.33
Authors
Kudo, N.,Kumagai, K.,Wakatsuki, S.,Nishijima, M.,Hanada, K.,Kato, R. (deposition date: 2006-11-28, release date: 2007-12-18, Last modification date: 2024-03-13)
Primary citationKudo, N.,Kumagai, K.,Tomishige, N.,Yamaji, T.,Wakatsuki, S.,Nishijima, M.,Hanada, K.,Kato, R.
Structural basis for specific lipid recognition by CERT responsible for nonvesicular trafficking of ceramide.
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.Usa, 105:488-493, 2008
Cited by
PubMed Abstract: In mammalian cells, ceramide is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and transferred to the Golgi apparatus for conversion to sphingomyelin. Ceramide transport occurs in a nonvesicular manner and is mediated by CERT, a cytosolic 68-kDa protein with a C-terminal steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer (START) domain. The CERT START domain efficiently transfers natural D-erythro-C16-ceramide, but not lipids with longer (C20) amide-acyl chains. The molecular mechanisms of ceramide specificity, both stereo-specific recognition and length limit, are not well understood. Here we report the crystal structures of the CERT START domain in its apo-form and in complex with ceramides having different acyl chain lengths. In these complex structures, one ceramide molecule is buried in a long amphiphilic cavity. At the far end of the cavity, the amide and hydroxyl groups of ceramide form a hydrogen bond network with specific amino acid residues that play key roles in stereo-specific ceramide recognition. At the head of the ceramide molecule, there is no extra space to accommodate additional bulky groups. The two aliphatic chains of ceramide are surrounded by the hydrophobic wall of the cavity, whose size and shape dictate the length limit for cognate ceramides. Furthermore, local high-crystallographic B-factors suggest that the alpha-3 and the Omega1 loop might work as a gate to incorporate the ceramide into the cavity. Thus, the structures demonstrate the structural basis for the mechanism by which CERT can distinguish ceramide from other lipid types yet still recognize multiple species of ceramides.
PubMed: 18184806
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0709191105
PDB entries with the same primary citation
Experimental method
X-RAY DIFFRACTION (1.4 Å)
Structure validation

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