InterPro domain: IPR001060

General Information

  • Identifier IPR001060
  • Description FCH domain
  • Number of genes 4
  • Gene duplication stats Loading...

Abstract

FCH domain is a short conserved region of around 60 amino acids first described as a region of homology between FER and CIP4 proteins [ 1 ]. In the CIP4 protein the FCH domain binds to microtubules [ 2 ]. The FCH domain is always found N-terminally and is followed by a coiled-coil region. The FCH and coiled-coil domains are structurally similar to Bin/amphiphysin/RVS (BAR) domains [ 3 ]. They are alpha-helical membrane-binding modules that function in endocytosis, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and signalling [ 4 ].

Proteins containing an FCH domain can be divided in 3 classes [ 4 ]:

  1. A subfamily of protein kinases usually associated with an SH2 domain:
    • Fps/fes (Fujimani poultry sarcoma/feline sarcoma) proto-oncogenes. They are non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinases preferentially expressed in myeloid lineage. The viral oncogene has an unregulated kinase activity which abrogates the need for cytokines and influences differentiation of haematopoietic progenitor cells.
    • Fes related protein (fer). It is an ubiquitously expressed homologue of Fes.
  2. Adaptor proteins usually associated with a C-terminal SH3 domain:
    • Schizosaccharomyces pombe CDC15 protein. It mediates cytoskeletal rearrangements required for cytokinesis. It is essential for viability.
    • CD2 cytoplasmic domain binding protein.
    • Mammalian Cdc42-interacting protein 4 (CIP4). It may act as a link between Cdc42 signaling and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
    • Mammalian PACSIN proteins. A family of cytoplasmic phosphoproteins playing a role in vesicle formation and transport.
  3. A subfamily of Rho-GAP proteins:
    • Mammalian RhoGAP4 proteins. They may down-regulate Rho-like GTPases in hematopoietic cells.
    • Yeast hypothetical protein YBR260C.
    • Caenorhabditis elegans hypothetical protein ZK669.1.


1. A Cdc42 target protein with homology to the non-kinase domain of FER has a potential role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Curr. Biol. 7, 479-87
2. Cdc42-interacting protein 4 mediates binding of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein to microtubules. J. Biol. Chem. 275, 7854-61
3. F-BAR domains: multifunctional regulators of membrane curvature. J. Cell. Sci. 121, 1951-4
4. Closing in on the biological functions of Fps/Fes and Fer. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 3, 278-89

Species distribution

Gene table