3-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE OF ANNEXINS

Annexins constitute a family of structurally related calcium- and phos pholipid-binding proteins whose molecular structure has been investiga ted in detail in the crystalline and membrane-bound form. Their polype ptide chain is folded into four or eight alpha-helical domains of simi lar structure with a central hydrophilic pore. Bound to phospholipid m embranes, the four-domain arrangement of the annexin molecule is conse rved. A peripheral binding mode has been well documented by electron m icroscopy and a variety of other techniques.