InterPro domain: IPR002014

The VHS domain is an about 150 residues long domain, whose name is derivedfrom its occurrence in VPS-27, Hrs and STAM. The VHS domain is found at the N-termini of proteins associated with endocytocis and/or vesicular trafficking,often in association with other domains like FYVE, SH3 or TAM [ 1 , 2 ]. The VHS domain of Hrs makes both intra- andintermolecular interactions with FYVE domains and it has been proposed that itmight as well interact with other domains. The VHS domain might function as amultipurpose docking adapter that localizes proteins to the membrane throughinteractions with the membrane and/or the endocytic machinery [ 3 , 4 ].

Resolution of the crystal structure of the VHS domain of Drosophila Hrs andhuman Tom1 revealed that it consists of eight helices arranged in a superhelix[ 5 , 5 ].

1. SMART, a simple modular architecture research tool: identification of signaling domains. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95, 5857-64
2. VHS domain marks a group of proteins involved in endocytosis and vesicular trafficking. FEBS Lett. 440, 255-7
3. Crystal structure of the VHS and FYVE tandem domains of Hrs, a protein involved in membrane trafficking and signal transduction. Cell 100, 447-56
4. Structure of the VHS domain of human Tom1 (target of myb 1): insights into interactions with proteins and membranes. Biochemistry 39, 11282-90