EF-hand, calcium binding motif; A diverse superfamily of calcium sensors and calcium signal modulators; most examples in this alignment model have 2 active canonical EF hands. Ca2+ binding induces a conformational change in the EF-hand motif, leading to the activation or inactivation of target proteins. EF-hands tend to occur in pairs or higher copy numbers.

                         10        20        30        40
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*
gi 205829213  33 EFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASLGKNPTDAYLDAMMNEA 77
Cdd:cd00051    1 ELREAFRLFDKDGDGTISADELKAALKSLGEGLSEEEIDEMIREV 45

EF-hand domain;

                          10        20        30
                  ....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 205829213   33 EFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASLG 62
Cdd:pfam13405   1 ELREAFKLFDKDGDGKISLEELRKALRSLG 30

centrin; Provisional

                         10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 205829213  26 FDQSQIQEFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASLGKNPTDAYLDAMM----NEAPGPINFTMFLTMFGEKLNGTDPED 101
Cdd:PTZ00183  11 LTEDQKKEIREAFDLFDTDGSGTIDPKELKVAMRSLGFEPKKEEIKQMIadvdKDGSGKIDFEEFLDIMTKKLGERDPRE 90

                         90       100       110       120       130       140
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|...
gi 205829213 102 VIRNAFACFDEEATGTIQEDYLRELLTTMGDRFTDEEVDELYREAPIDKKGNFNYIEFTRILK 164
Cdd:PTZ00183  91 EILKAFRLFDDDKTGKISLKNLKRVAKELGETITDEELQEMIDEADRNGDGEISEEEFYRIMK 153

Ca2+-binding protein, EF-hand superfamily [Signal transduction mechanisms];

                         10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 205829213  30 QIQEFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASLgknpTDAYLDAMMNEAPGPINFTMFLTMFgEKLNGTDPEDVIRNAFAC 109
Cdd:COG5126    3 QRRKLDRRFDLLDADGDGVLERDDFEALFRRL----WATLFSEADTDGDGRISREEFVAGM-ESLFEATVEPFARAAFDL 77

                         90       100       110       120       130
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*.
gi 205829213 110 FDEEATGTIQEDYLRELLTTMGdrFTDEEVDELYREAPIDKKGNFNYIEFTRILKH 165
Cdd:COG5126   78 LDTDGDGKISADEFRRLLTALG--VSEEEADELFARLDTDGDGKISFEEFVAAVRD 131

EF-hand, calcium binding motif; EF-hands are calcium-binding motifs that occur at least in pairs. Links between disease states and genes encoding EF-hands, particularly the S100 subclass, are emerging. Each motif consists of a 12 residue loop flanked on either side by a 12 residue alpha-helix. EF-hands undergo a conformational change unpon binding calcium ions.

                           10        20
                   ....*....|....*....|....*....
gi 205829213    33 EFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASL 61
Cdd:smart00054   1 ELKEAFRLFDKDGDGKIDFEEFKDLLKAL 29

N-terminal domain of Myosin essential light chain ELC; ELC is part of the apicomplexan membrane-associated protein complex called the glideosome, which is essential for parasite motility. The glideosome is composed of six proteins: myosin A (MyoA), essential light chain ELC, myosin light chain MLC1 (also called MTIP), and the glideosome-associated proteins GAP40, GAP45, and GAP50. MyoA is a Class XIV myosin implicated in gliding motility, as well as host cell and tissue invasion by parasites. ELC binds to the MyoA neck region adjacent to the MLC1-binding site, and both myosin light chains co-located to the glideosome. Although ELCs bind to a conserved MyoA sequence, P. falciparum ELC adopts a distinct structure in the free and MyoA-bound state. Therefore ELCs enhance MyoA performance by inducing alpha helical structure formation in MyoA and thus stiffening its lever arm. It has been shown that disruption of MyoA, MLC1, or ELC have dramatic effects on parasite motility but do not affect parasite shape or replication. The ELC N-terminal domain is part of the EF-hand calcium binding motif superfamily. Calcium binding has no effect on the structure of ELCs.

                         10        20        30        40        50        60
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*...
gi 205829213  32 QEFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASLGKNPTDAYLDAMmneaPGPINFTMFLTMFGEKLNGTDP 99
Cdd:cd22949    3 EKFREAFILFDRDGDGELTMYEAVLAMRSCGIPLTNDEKDAL----PASMNWDQFENWAKKKLAYSDP 66

EF-hand domain pair;

                          10        20        30        40        50        60
                  ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*.
gi 205829213   31 IQEFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASL--GKNPTDAYLDAMMNEAP----GPINFTMFLTMF 90
Cdd:pfam13499   1 EEKLKEAFKLLDSDGDGYLDVEELKKLLRKLeeGEPLSDEEVEELFKEFDldkdGRISFEEFLELY 66

EF hand; The EF-hands can be divided into two classes: signalling proteins and buffering/transport proteins. The first group is the largest and includes the most well-known members of the family such as calmodulin, troponin C and S100B. These proteins typically undergo a calcium-dependent conformational change which opens a target binding site. The latter group is represented by calbindin D9k and do not undergo calcium dependent conformational changes.

                          10        20
                  ....*....|....*....|....*....
gi 205829213   33 EFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASL 61
Cdd:pfam00036   1 ELKEIFRLFDKDGDGKIDFEEFKELLKKL 29

EF-hand, calcium binding motif, found in parvalbumin-like EF-hand family; The family includes alpha- and beta-parvalbumins, and a group of uncharacterized calglandulin-like proteins. Parvalbumins are small, acidic, cytosolic EF-hand-containing Ca2+-buffer and Ca2+ transporter/shuttle proteins belonging to EF-hand superfamily. They are expressed by vertebrates in fast-twitch muscle cells, specific neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system, sensory cells of the mammalian auditory organ (Corti's cell), and some other cells, and characterized by the presence of three consecutive EF-hand motifs (helix-loop-helix) called AB, CD, and EF, but only CD and EF can chelate metal ions, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. Thus, they may play an additional role in Mg2+ handling. Moreover, parvalbumins represent one of the major animal allergens. In metal-bound states, parvalbumins possess a rigid and stable tertiary structure and display strong allergenicity. In contrast, the metal-free parvalbumins are intrinsically disordered, and the loss of metal ions results in a conformational change that decreases their IgE binding capacity. Furthermore, parvalbumins have been widely used as a neuronal marker for a variety of functional brain systems. They also function as a Ca2+ shuttle transporting Ca2+ from troponin-C (TnC) to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump during muscle relaxation. Thus they may facilitate myocardial relaxation and play important roles in cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Parvalbumins consists of alpha- and beta- sublineages, which can be distinguished on the basis of isoelectric point (pI > 5 for alpha; pI

                         10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 205829213  76 EAPGPINFTMFLTMFGEKlngTDPEDVIRNAFACFDEEATGTIQEDYLRELLTTM---GDRFTDEEVDELYREAPIDKKG 152
Cdd:cd16251   12 RAHGSFNYKKFFEHVGLK---QKSEDQIKKVFQILDKDKSGFIEEEELKYILKGFsiaGRDLTDEETKALLAAGDTDGDG 88

                         90
                 ....*....|..
gi 205829213 153 NFNYIEFTRILK 164
Cdd:cd16251   89 KIGVEEFATLVA 100

EF-hand, calcium binding motif, found in beta-parvalbumin; Beta-parvalbumin, also termed Oncomodulin-1 (OM), is a small calcium-binding protein that is expressed in hepatomas, as well as in the blastocyst and the cytotrophoblasts of the placenta. It is also found to be expressed in the cochlear outer hair cells of the organ of Corti and frequently expressed in neoplasms. Mammalian beta-parvalbumin is secreted by activated macrophages and neutrophils. It may function as a tissue-specific Ca2+-dependent regulatory protein, and may also serve as a specialized cytosolic Ca2+ buffer. Beta-parvalbumin acts as a potent growth-promoting signal between the innate immune system and neurons in vivo. It has high and specific affinity for its receptor on retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and functions as the principal mediator of optic nerve regeneration. It exerts its effects in a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent manner and can further elevate intracellular cAMP levels. Moreover, beta-parvalbumin is associated with efferent function and outer hair cell electromotility, and can identify different hair cell types in the mammalian inner ear. Beta-parvalbumin is characterized by the presence of three consecutive EF-hand motifs (helix-loop-helix) called AB, CD, and EF, but only CD and EF can chelate metal ions, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. The EF site displays a high-affinity for Ca2+/Mg2+, and the CD site is a low-affinity Ca2+-specific site. In addition, beta-parvalbumin is distinguished from other parvalbumins by its unusually low isoelectric point (pI = 3.1) and sequence eccentricities (e.g., Y57-L58-D59 instead of F57-I58-E59).

                         10        20        30        40        50        60
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....
gi 205829213  33 EFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLAS-------LGKNPTDAYLDAMMNEAPGPINFTMFLTM 89
Cdd:cd16255   35 DVKKVFEIIDQDKSGFIEEEELKLFLQNfssgareLTDAETKAFLKAGDSDGDGKIGVEEFQAL 98

The penta-EF hand (PEF) family; The penta-EF hand (PEF) family contains a group of five EF-hand calcium-binding proteins, including several classical calpain large catalytic subunits (CAPN1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14), two calpain small subunits (CAPNS1 and CAPNS2), as well as non-calpain PEF proteins, ALG-2 (apoptosis-linked gene 2, also termed programmed cell death protein 6, PDCD6), peflin, sorcin, and grancalcin. Based on the sequence similarity of EF1 hand, ALG-2 and peflin have been classified into group I PEF proteins. Calcium-dependent protease calpain subfamily members, sorcin and grancalcin, are group II PEF proteins. Calpains (EC 3.4.22.17) are calcium-activated intracellular cysteine proteases that play important roles in the degradation or functional modulation in a variety of substrates. They have been implicated in a number of physiological processes such as cell cycle progression, remodeling of cytoskeletal-cell membrane attachments, signal transduction, gene expression and apoptosis. ALG-2 is a pro-apoptotic factor that forms a homodimer in the cell or a heterodimer with its closest paralog peflin through their EF5s. Peflin is a 30-kD PEF protein with a longer N-terminal hydrophobic domain than any other member of the PEF family, and it contains nine nonapeptide (A/PPGGPYGGP) repeats. It exists only as a heterodimer with ALG-2. The dissociation of heterodimer occurs in the presence of Ca2+. ALG-2 interacts with various proteins in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Sorcin (for soluble resistance-related calcium binding protein) is a soluble resistance-related calcium-binding protein that participates in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in cells. Grancalcin is a cytosolic Ca2+-binding protein specifically expressed in neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. It plays a key role in leukocyte-specific functions that are responsible for host defense. Grancalcin can form a heterodimer together with sorcin. Members in this family contain five EF-hand motifs attached to an N-terminal region of variable length containing one or more short Gly/Pro-rich sequences. These proteins form homodimers or heterodimers through pairing between the 5th EF-hands from the two molecules. Unlike calmodulin, the PEF domains do not undergo major conformational changes upon binding Ca2+.

                         10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                 ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 205829213  31 IQEFKEAFNMIDQNRDGFIDKEDLHDMLASLGKNPTDAYLDAMM---NEAPGPINFTMFLTMFgEKLNGtdpedvIRNAF 107
Cdd:cd15897   69 IKAWQEIFRTYDTDGSGTIDSNELRQALSGAGYRLSEQTYDIIIrryDRGRGNIDFDDFIQCC-VRLQR------LTDAF 141

                         90       100
                 ....*....|....*....|...
gi 205829213 108 ACFDEEATGTIQEDYLRELLTTM 130
Cdd:cd15897  142 RRYDKDQDGQIQVNYDEFLQGTM 164