Volume 10 Issue 8, August 2003

Two new structural studies reveal the nature of accessory protein binding to trans-Golgi network–specific adaptors of clathrin-coated vesicles.

Structural and functional analysis of WASP family cell signaling proteins shows that the same residues that are sequestered upon GTPase binding in the autoinhibited state are involved in binding to and activating Arp2/3 complex, WASP's downstream partner in the signaling cascade.

IgA triggers immune responses by binding to Fc receptors on cells of the immune system. The structure of IgA1-Fc in a complex with two molecules of FcαRI provides clues that may explain the selectivity of IgA-mediated immune events.

The structure of the calcium-bound core of human cardiac troponin reveals distinct subdomains connected by flexible linkers, implying that domain reorientation motions within the complex trigger muscle contraction.