@article {527916,
	title = {A novel calcium-binding site of von Willebrand factor A2 domain regulates its cleavage by ADAMTS13},
	journal = {Blood},
	volume = {117},
	year = {2011},
	note = {Zhou, MinyunDong, XianchiBaldauf, CarstenChen, HuaZhou, YanfengSpringer, Timothy ALuo, XinpingZhong, ChenGrater, FraukeDing, JianpingUnited StatesBloodBlood. 2011 Apr 28;117(17):4623-31. Epub 2011 Mar 8.},
	month = {Apr 28},
	pages = {4623-31},
	edition = {2011/03/10},
	abstract = {The proteolysis of VWF by ADAMTS13 is an essential step in the regulation of its hemostatic and thrombogenic potential. The cleavage occurs at strand beta4 in the structural core of the A2 domain of VWF, so unfolding of the A2 domain is a prerequisite for cleavage. In the present study, we present the crystal structure of an engineered A2 domain that exhibits a significant difference in the alpha3-beta4 loop compared with the previously reported structure of wild-type A2. Intriguingly, a metal ion was detected at a site formed mainly by the C-terminal region of the alpha3-beta4 loop that was later identified as Ca(2+) after various biophysical and biochemical studies. Force-probe molecular dynamic simulations of a modeled structure of the wild-type A2 featuring the discovered Ca(2+)-binding site revealed that an increase in force was needed to unfold strand beta4 when Ca(2+) was bound. Cleavage assays consistently demonstrated that Ca(2+) binding stabilized the A2 domain and impeded its unfolding, and consequently protected it from cleavage by ADAMTS13. We have revealed a novel Ca(2+)-binding site at the A2 domain of VWF and demonstrated a relationship between Ca(2+) and force in the regulation of VWF and primary hemostasis.},
	isbn = {1528-0020 (Electronic)0006-4971 (Linking)},
	author = {Zhou, M and Dong, X. and Baldauf, C and Chen, H and Zhou, Y. and Springer, T.A. and Lu, X. and Zhong, C and Grater, F and Ding, J}
}
