INVESTIGATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING MECHANISM OF TROPONIN-C AND CALMODULIN BY GENE ENGINEERING METHODS

The structure, properties, and functioning mechanism of calmodulin and troponin C are reviewed. The mechanism of Ca2+ binding is described and data on the primary and tertiary structure of the Ca2+-binding proteins are analyzed, Various methods used for the measurement of functional activity of calmodulin and troponin C are compared. The use of gene engineering methods for determination of the role of different ligands in Ca2+ binding is analyzed. The role of alpha-helical regions in maintaining the overall structure, Ca2+ coordination, and the interaction of calmodulin and troponin C with target proteins is discussed. Mutations changing the electrical charge and hydrophobicity of calmodulin and troponin C are described. Data on the incorporation of Cys residues into the structure of Ca2+-binding proteins are presented and the utility of this approach for investigation of conformational changes and the mechanism of interaction of calmodulin and troponin C with target proteins is analyzed.