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Structure of the vault, a ubiquitous celular component
1Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Biological Imaging, UCLA School of Medicine, A-324 CIBI, Box 951770, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1770, USA.
Structure (London, England : 1993)
|April 10, 1999
Summary
The vault, a cellular particle, has a hollow, barrel-like structure with caps and a waist. Its determined structure may offer insights into its role in drug resistance and cellular transport.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Cell biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The vault is a ubiquitous, conserved ribonucleoprotein particle (approx. 13 MDa).
- Vaults are upregulated in multidrug-resistant cancer cells.
- Vaults share protein components with the telomerase complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the structure of the vault.
- Understand the vault's role in cellular metabolism.
- Investigate the vault's role in drug resistance.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was used.
- Over 1300 particle images were processed.
- A 31 Å resolution structure was calculated.
Main Results:
- The vault exhibits a hollow, barrel-like structure.
- The structure features two protruding caps and an invaginated waist.
- Eightfold (C8) symmetry was imposed, though potential cylindrical averaging was noted.
Conclusions:
- The vault's structure is consistent with a role in subcellular transport.
- The structure suggests a potential role in sequestering macromolecular assemblies.
- The normal cellular function of the vault remains undetermined.