The EH network

The EH domain is an evolutionary conserved protein-protein interaction doma in present in a growing number of proteins from yeast to mammals. Even thou gh the domain was discovered just 5 years ago, a great deal has been learne d regarding its three-dimensional structure and binding specificities. More over, a number of cellular ligands of the domain have been identified and d emonstrated to define a complex network of protein-protein interactions in the eukaryotic cell. Interestingly, many of the EH-containing and EH-bindin g proteins display characteristics of endocytic "accessory" proteins, sugge sting that the principal function of the EH network is to regulate various steps in endocytosis. In addition, recent evidence suggests that the EH net work might work as an "integrator" of signals controlling cellular pathways as diverse as endocytosis, nucleocytosolic export, and ultimately cell pro liferation. (C) 1999 Academic Press.