cover illustration The Annexin proteins with the large N-terminal domain have been shown to cause membrane aggregation, but the mechanism is not clear. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on the Ca2+-free annexin I with the N-terminal domain buried inside the core, the Ca2+-bound annexin I without N-terminal domain, and the Ca2+-bound annexin I with the N-terminal domain exposed.The results demonstrated the exposed N-terminal domain is the most flexible part of the system, indicating its potential role as the secondary membrane binding site in the annexin I-induced membrane aggregation. Future simulations will provide the details of annexin I interaction with membrane. For details please see Shesham et al., pp. 115-120.
[Table of Contents]