Solution structure of a unicellular microalgae-derived translationally controlled tumor protein revealed both conserved features and structural diversity.

Translationally controlled tumor proteins (TCTPs) are eukaryote-conserved multifunctional proteins, but their primary functions are not well understood yet. Study on TCTP from unicellular species may provide insight into the primary function of the TCTP family. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the TCTP from Nannochloropsis oceanica (NoTCTP), a model unicellular microalga for biodiesel and polyunsaturated fatty acid production, has low sequence homology to other structure-known TCTPs and two TCTP signature patterns are not detected in NoTCTP. Hence, we determined the solution structure of NoTCTP. The overall structure of NoTCTP, including a long flexible loop, a β-barrel subdomain, and a helical subdomain, is generally similar to other TCTP structures. NoTCTP has a eukaryote-conserved surface for the binding of eukaryotic elongation factor 1B, confirming that TCTP is involved in protein synthesis, which is one of the primary functions of TCTP. Additionally, NoTCTP has distinct features different from other TCTPs. NoTCTP structure lacks a short α-helix which exists in all other known TCTP structures. The helical subdomain and some loops of NoTCTP also have distinct conformations among the TCTP family proteins. Therefore, our study on NoTCTP revealed not only conserved structural features but also the structural diversity of TCTP family proteins.