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Tick histamine-binding proteins (HBPs) are lipocalins with two binding pockets. One of these binds histamine with a high affinity and is found at the position expected from other lipocalins, adjacent to the omega-loop at the open-end of the beta-barrel. A second binding cavity, which is a low-affinity site for histamine in one of the HBPs, is located at the end of the barrel that is closed off in other lipocalins. In order to create the second site, the 'closed-end' region has undergone a major reconstruction. Typical lipocalin characteristics, such as the 3(10) helix and a structural cluster of highly conserved residues, have been lost, while an alpha-helix now shields the cavity from the exterior. The prominence of acidic residues in the binding pockets is another distinctive characteristic of HBPs. Whereas most lipocalins have highly hydrophobic binding cavities designed to bind lipophilic compounds, HBPs have evolved to trap cationic, hydrophilic molecules.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Biochim Biophys Acta

Publication Date

18/10/2000

Volume

1482

Pages

92 - 101

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Binding Sites, Cysteine, Histamine, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Receptors, Histamine H1, Receptors, Histamine H2, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Ticks, Tryptophan