The Role of C2 Domains in Two Different Phosphatases: PTEN and SHIP2

Understanding cytokinesis interaction by interaction

In this issue of Structure, Hall et al.1 investigate the binding modes of anillin-like Mid1. During cytokinesis, Mid1 connects the contractile ring to the plasma membrane. Using computer simulations, the authors demonstrated how this connection is established via the L3 loop of the C2 domain.

Regulatory mechanisms triggered by enzyme interactions with lipid membrane surfaces

Recruitment of enzymes to intracellular membranes often modulates their catalytic activity, which can be important in cell signaling and membrane trafficking. Thus, re-localization is not only important for these enzymes to gain access to their substrates, but membrane interactions often allosterically regulate enzyme function by inducing conformational changes across different time and amplitude scales. Recent structural, biophysical and computational studies have revealed how key enzymes interact with lipid membrane surfaces, and how this membrane binding regulates protein structure and function. This review summarizes the recent progress in understanding regulatory mechanisms involved in enzyme-membrane interactions.