The GLUE (GRAM-like ubiquitin-binding in EAP45) domain structure has a typical PH domain architecture with two curved beta sheets forming a barrel-like structure and one long alpha helix. Although the GLUE domain structurally resembles a split PH domain, the phosphoinositide pocket is clearly different that of the PH domain. The major components of the ESCRT complex consists of proteins recruited at different stages of the vesicular transport pathway. The GLUE domain plays a critical role in its ability to bind PtdIns3p and translocate Vps36 to endosomes. The affinity of the GLUE domain to bind PtdIns3p-containing vesicles is approximately 0.1uM. Mutations within the GLUE domain inhibit lipid binding and result in defects in the sorting of ubiquitinated cargo. Furthermore, the GLUE domain of Vps36 contains two integral NSF domains that recognize ubiquitin.
The PRU family was thought originally to be involved in cell-adhesion (1, 2), but the members are now known to be proteasome subunit Rpn13, a novel ubiquitin receptor. Rpn13 binds ubiquitin via a conserved amino-terminal region called the pleckstrin-like receptor for ubiquitin, termed Pru, domain (3, 4). The domain forms two contiguous anti-parallel beta-sheets with a configuration similar to the pleckstrin-homology domain (PHD) fold. Rpn13's ability to bind ubiquitin and the proteasome subunit Rpn2/S1 simultaneously supports evidence of its role as a ubiquitin receptor. Finally, when complexed to di-ubiquitin, via the Pru, and Uch37 via the C-terminal part, it frees up the distal ubiquitin for de-ubiquitination by the Uch37 (5).
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2. Simins et al., 1999. Functional cloning of ARM-1, an adhesion-regulating molecule upregulated in metastatic tumor cells. Clin Exp Metastasis., 17(8):641-8. PMID: 10919708
3. Husnjak et al., 2008. Proteasome subunit Rpn13 is a novel ubiquitin receptor. Nature., 453(7194):481-8. PMID: 18497817
4. http://www.ebi.ac.uk/interpro/entry/IPR006773
5. Schreiner et al., 2008. Ubiquitin docking at the proteasome through a novel pleckstrin-homology domain interaction. Nature., ;453(7194):548-52. PMID: 18497827