Determining the basis of channel-tetramerization specificity by x-ray crystallography and a sequence-comparison algorithm: Family values (FamVal)
Nanao, M.H., Zhou, W., Pfaffinger, P.J., Choe, S.(2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100: 8670-8675
- PubMed: 12835418 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1432840100
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1NN7 - PubMed Abstract: 
We have developed a semiempirical algorithm called Family Values (FamVal), which identifies residues that encode functional specificity in a protein sequence. Given a multiple sequence alignment (MSA) grouped into functionally distinct subfamilies, FamVal calculates a specificity score for each subfamily at every amino acid position of an MSA. This algorithm was used to predict specificity-encoding positions within the tetramerization assembly (T1) domain of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel subfamilies Kv3 and Kv4. The importance of one such position (Arg to Ala at MSA position 93) was confirmed by in vitro pull-down assays. The structural basis of this assembly discrimination was elucidated by determining the crystal structure of the Kv4 T1 domain and comparing it to the Kv3 T1 domain.
- Structural Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Organizational Affiliation: 
















