Armadillo repeats
Encyclopedia
Armadillo repeats are named after the β-catenin-like Armadillo protein of the fruit fly Drosophila
. These repeats are about 40 amino acids long and proteins that contain them have many tandemly repeated copies. Each Armadillo repeat is composed of a pair of alpha helices that form a hairpin structure. Multiple copies of the repeat form what is known as an alpha solenoid
structure. β-catenin is a protein involved in linking cadherin
cell adhesion proteins to the cytoskeleton
, but the Armadillo repeat is found in a wide range of proteins with other functions. This type of protein domain is important in transducing WNT signals during embryonic development
.
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
. These repeats are about 40 amino acids long and proteins that contain them have many tandemly repeated copies. Each Armadillo repeat is composed of a pair of alpha helices that form a hairpin structure. Multiple copies of the repeat form what is known as an alpha solenoid
Alpha solenoid
An alpha solenoid is a protein fold found in the protein subunits of light-harvesting complexes, particularly in the peridinin chlorophyll proteins of dinoflagellates, and as domains of larger eukaryotic proteins that make up the nuclear pore complex. The fold consists of alpha helices arranged in...
structure. β-catenin is a protein involved in linking cadherin
Cadherin
Cadherins are a class of type-1 transmembrane proteins. They play important roles in cell adhesion, ensuring that cells within tissues are bound together. They are dependent on calcium ions to function, hence their name.The cadherin superfamily includes cadherins, protocadherins, desmogleins, and...
cell adhesion proteins to the cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...
, but the Armadillo repeat is found in a wide range of proteins with other functions. This type of protein domain is important in transducing WNT signals during embryonic development
Embryogenesis
Embryogenesis is the process by which the embryo is formed and develops, until it develops into a fetus.Embryogenesis starts with the fertilization of the ovum by sperm. The fertilized ovum is referred to as a zygote...
.
External links
- Armadillo/plakoglobin ARM repeat in PROSITEPROSITEPROSITE is a protein database. It consists of entries describing the protein families, domains and functional sites as well as amino acid patterns, signatures, and profiles in them. These are manually curated by a team of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and tightly integrated into Swiss-Prot...