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Crystal structure of the nuclear Ras-related protein Ran in its GDP-bound form

Nature volume 374, pages 378–381 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

THE Ran proteins constitute a distinct branch of the superfamily of Ras-related GTP-binding proteins1 which function as molecular switches cycling between GTP-bound 'on' and GDP-bound 'off states2. Ran is located predominantly in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells3 and is involved in the nuclear import of proteins4,5 as well as in control of DNA synthesis and of cell-cycle progression6–8. We report here the crystal structure at 2.3 Å resolution of human Ran (Mr 24K) complexed with GDP and Mg2+. This structure reveals a similarity with the Ras core (G-domain) but with significant variations in regions involved in GDP and Mg2+ coordination (switch I and switch II regions in Ras)9,10, suggesting that there could be major conformational changes upon GTP binding. In addition to the G-domain, an extended chain and an α-helix were identified at the carboxy terminus. The amino-terminal (amino-acid residues 1MAAQGEP7) stretch and the acidic tail (211DEDDDL216) appear to be flexible in the crystal structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-lnstitut für molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Strukturelle Biologie, Rheinlanddamm 201, 44139, Dortmund, Germany

    Klaus Scheffzek, Christian Klebe & Alfred Wittinghofer

  2. Max-Planck-lnstitut für medizinische Forschung, Abteilung Biophysik, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Karin Fritz-Wolf & Wolfgang Kabsch

Authors
  1. Klaus Scheffzek
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  2. Christian Klebe
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  3. Karin Fritz-Wolf
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  4. Wolfgang Kabsch
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  5. Alfred Wittinghofer
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Scheffzek, K., Klebe, C., Fritz-Wolf, K. et al. Crystal structure of the nuclear Ras-related protein Ran in its GDP-bound form. Nature 374, 378–381 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/374378a0

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