Crystal structure of human survivin reveals a bow tie-shaped dimer with two unusual alpha-helical extensions

Mol Cell. 2000 Jul;6(1):183-9.

Abstract

Survivin is a mitotic spindle-associated protein involved in linking mitotic spindle function to activation of apoptosis in mammalian cells. The structure of the full-length human survivin has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 2.7 A. Strikingly, the structure forms a very unusual bow tie-shaped dimer. It does not dimerize through a C-terminal coiled-coil, contrary to sequence analysis prediction. The C-terminal helices contain hydrophobic clusters with the potential for protein-protein interactions. The unusual shape and dimensions of survivin suggest it serves an adaptor function through its alpha-helical extensions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimerization
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / physiology
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Survivin

Substances

  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Survivin

Associated data

  • PDB/1E31