The crystal structure of the novel calcium-binding protein AtCBL2 from Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana calcineurin B-like protein (AtCBL2) is a member of a recently identified family of calcineurin B-like calcium-binding proteins in A. thaliana. The crystal structure of AtCBL2 has been determined at 2.1 Angstrom resolution. The protein forms a compact alpha-helical structure with two pairs of EF-hand motifs. The structure is similar in overall folding topology to the structures of calcineurin B and neuronal calcium sensor 1, but differs significantly in local conformation. The two calcium ions are coordinated in the first and fourth EF-hand motifs, whereas the second and third EF-hand motifs are maintained in the open form by internal hydrogen bonding without coordination of calcium ions. Both a possible site and a possible mechanism for the target binding to AtCBL2 are discussed based on the three-dimensional structure.