Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Super-Resolution Microscopy of the Synaptonemal Complex Within the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline
Published on: September 13, 2022
Hybrid structural model of the complete human ESCRT-0 complex.
Xuefeng Ren1, Daniel P Kloer, Young C Kim
1Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
The study models the complete ESCRT-0 complex, revealing its structure and dynamic nature. This complex is crucial for sorting cell surface receptors for degradation, ensuring cellular homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery regulates multivesicular body formation and receptor sorting.
- The ESCRT-0 complex, composed of Hrs and STAM proteins, initiates the ESCRT pathway by recognizing ubiquitinated cargo.
- Understanding the structural organization of ESCRT-0 is vital for elucidating its role in receptor trafficking and degradation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the complete structural model of the human ESCRT-0 complex.
- To investigate the dynamic and conformational properties of ESCRT-0.
- To correlate structural features with the functional role of ESCRT-0 in receptor sorting.
Main Methods:
- Crystal structure determination of the Hrs-STAM core complex at 2.3 Angstroms.
- Hydrodynamic measurements to determine the complex's size and stoichiometry.
- Monte Carlo simulations to model the dynamic ensemble of ESCRT-0 conformations.
Main Results:
- A 1:1 heterodimer structure for ESCRT-0 with a hydrodynamic radius of 7.9 nm.
- The crystal structure reveals domain-swapped GAT domains and an antiparallel coiled-coil.
- Simulations show a dynamic ensemble of conformations, highlighting functional versatility.
Conclusions:
- ESCRT-0 exhibits a unique structural organization combining ordered and disordered elements.
- The dynamic nature of ESCRT-0 facilitates versatile recognition of diverse ubiquitinated receptors.
- This structural insight provides a foundation for understanding ESCRT-mediated trafficking and cellular regulation.
Related Concept Videos
Structural Organization of the Human Body: An Overview
To study the chemical level of organization, scientists consider the simplest building blocks of matter: subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules. All matter in the universe is composed of one or more unique pure substances called elements, familiar examples of...
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
Protein Translocation Machinery on the ER Membrane
Sec61 protein conducting channel
In eukaryotes, the translocon complex comprises a core heterotrimeric translocator channel called the Sec61 complex. This channel includes three transmembrane proteins, Sec61α, Sec61β, and Sec61γ, and is the largest subunit of the translocon complex.
Assembly of Signaling Complexes
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
Structure of Cadherins

