Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada.
Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L6L 1X3, Canada.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Feb 11;21(4):1210. doi: 10.3390/ijms21041210.
is gaining increasing attention as a model organism for the study of calcium binding and calmodulin function in basic biological events as well as human diseases. After a short overview of calcium-binding proteins, the structure of Dictyostelium calmodulin and the conformational changes effected by calcium ion binding to its four EF hands are compared to its human counterpart, emphasizing the highly conserved nature of this central regulatory protein. The calcium-dependent and -independent motifs involved in calmodulin binding to target proteins are discussed with examples of the diversity of calmodulin binding proteins that have been studied in this amoebozoan. The methods used to identify and characterize calmodulin binding proteins is covered followed by the ways is currently being used as a system to study several neurodegenerative diseases and how it could serve as a model for studying calmodulinopathies such as those associated with specific types of heart arrythmia. Because of its rapid developmental cycles, its genetic tractability, and a richly endowed stock center, is in a position to become a leader in the field of calmodulin research.
秀丽隐杆线虫作为一种模式生物，在基础生物学事件以及人类疾病中钙结合和钙调蛋白功能的研究中受到越来越多的关注。在简要概述钙结合蛋白之后，将秀丽隐杆线虫钙调蛋白的结构以及钙离子结合其四EF 手对其构象的影响与人类钙调蛋白进行比较，强调了这种中央调节蛋白高度保守的性质。讨论了钙调蛋白与靶蛋白结合涉及的钙依赖性和非依赖性基序，并以在这种变形虫中研究过的钙调蛋白结合蛋白的多样性为例。介绍了用于鉴定和表征钙调蛋白结合蛋白的方法，随后介绍了将秀丽隐杆线虫作为研究几种神经退行性疾病的系统的方法，以及它如何作为研究钙调蛋白病（如与特定类型心律失常相关的钙调蛋白病）的模型。由于其快速的发育周期、遗传可操作性和丰富的资源中心，秀丽隐杆线虫在钙调蛋白研究领域处于领先地位。
