Monomer arrangement in HSP90 dimer as determined by decoration with N and C-terminal region specific antibodies

Electron microscopy using the low-angle rotary shadowing replica method showed that the HSP90 dimer consists of four globular domains aligning in a tandem fashion. When decorated with two monoclonal antibodies against epitopes mapped on the N-terminal region of HSP90, these antibodies bound to both ends of the HSP90 dimer. A C-terminal region specific antibody was shown to bind to the side of HSP90. These results support a model for HSP90 dimer whereby two HSP90 monomers are arranged in an antiparallel fashion and dimerize through the C-terminal domain. Treatment of HSP90 at elevated temperatures or with ATP at room temperature, though not with ADP, induces molecular transformation of the linear HSP90 dimer into an O-ring-shaped structure.