The Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase PDZ Motif Binds to -G(D,E)XV* Carboxyterminal Sequences

PDZ motifs are small protein-protein interaction modules that are thought to play a role in the clustering of submembranous signalling molecules. The specificity and functional consequences of their associative actions is still largely unknown. Using two-hybrid methodology we here demonstrate that the PDZ motif of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can mediate the binding to several other proteins in brain. Peptide library screening showed that proteins bearing a carboxy-terminal G(D,E)XV* sequence are preferred targets for the nNOS amino-terminal PDZ motif. Potential nNOS targets include a melanoma-associated antigen, cyclophilins and the alpha1C-adrenergic receptor.