Structural domains and signaling networks

The adaptator proteins play an important role in many transduction pathways by coupling directly or not transmembrane receptors. They are composed of several domains, the most common being SH2, PTB, PH, SH3 and WW. These doma ins are found in many signal transduction proteins because they allow speci fic protein-protein recognition. The SH2 and PTB domains recognize tyrosine phosphorylated peptides whereas SH3 and WW domain specifically bind to pro line rich peptides in the type helical polyproline conformation. The presen t review aims at presenting a structural biology point of view of some of t he domains involved in adaptors and the role of the three dimensional assem bly of these domains to gain functionality.