Structural characterization of calcineurin B homologous protein 1

Calcineurin B homologous protein 1( CHP1), also known as p22, is a calcium-binding EF-hand protein that plays a role in membrane trafficking. It binds to multiple effector proteins, including Na+/H+ exchangers, a serine/threonine kinase, and calcineurin, potentially modulating their function. The crystal structure of calcium-bound CHP1 from rat has been determined at 2.2 angstrom of resolution. The molecule has a compact alpha-helical structure containing four EF-hands. The overall folding topology of the protein is similar to that of the regulatory B subunit of calcineurin and to that of calcium-and integrin-binding protein. The calcium ion is coordinated in typical fashion in the third and fourth EF-hands, but the first and second EF-hands contain no calcium ion. The first EF-hand is maintained by internal interactions, and the second EF- hand is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions. CHP1 contains a hydrophobic pocket on the opposite side of the protein to the EF- hands that has been implicated in ligand binding.