Adenosine 5'-triphosphate--a new regulator of annexin function. A hypothesis

The paradigm of annexins as phospholipid-binding proteins interacting with membranes in a calcium-dependent manner has been recently questioned in light of observations that some annexin isoforms may behave like membrane integral proteins or remain associated with their target membranes at low, resting, concentrations of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm. In addition, an evidence has been presented that some annexins (annexins I, VI and VII) bind in vitro ATP and GTP, and upon binding the nucleotide the in vitro activity of these proteins is modified. However, annexins do not contain Walker A and B consensus sequences for ATP/GTP binding. This review presents the hypothesis that a new ATP-binding motif exists within the annexin molecules and that ATP may play a role of functional ligand for annexins also in vivo.