Solution structure and backbone dynamics of the Cu(I) and apo forms of the second metal-binding domain of the Menkes protein ATP7A

The second domain of the human Menkes protein (MNK2), formed by 72 residues, has been expressed in Escherichia coli, and its structure has been determined by NMR in both the apo and copper-loaded forms. The structures, obtained with C-13- and N-15-labeled samples, are of high quality with backbone rmsd values of 0.51 and 0.41 Angstrom and CYANA target functions of 0.39 and 0.38 Angstrom(2), respectively. The loop involved in copper binding is part of a hydrophobic patch, which is maintained in both forms. Conformational mobility is observed in the apo form in the same loop. A comparison with metallochapcrones and soluble domains of P-type ATPases allows us to relate the primary structure to the occurrence of structural rearrangements upon copper binding.