The Mad2 spindle checkpoint protein undergoes similar major conformational changes upon binding to either Mad1 or Cdc20.
Luo, X., Tang, Z., Rizo, J., Yu, H.(2002) Mol Cell 9: 59-71
- PubMed: 11804586 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00435-x
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1KLQ - PubMed Abstract: 
Mad2 participates in spindle checkpoint inhibition of APC(Cdc20). We show that RNAi-mediated suppression of Mad1 function in mammalian cells causes loss of Mad2 kinetochore localization and impairment of the spindle checkpoint. Mad1 and Cdc20 contain Mad2 binding motifs that share a common consensus. We have identified a class of Mad2 binding peptides with a similar consensus. Binding of one of these ligands, MBP1, triggers an extensive rearrangement of the tertiary structure of Mad2. Mad2 also undergoes a similar striking structural change upon binding to a Mad1 or Cdc20 binding motif peptide. Our data suggest that, upon checkpoint activation, Mad1 recruits Mad2 to unattached kinetochores and may promote binding of Mad2 to Cdc20.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.