How the dual PDZ domain from Postsynaptic density protein 95 clusters ion channels and receptors

PSD-95 is a member of Membrane Associated Guanylate Kinase class of proteins which form scaffolding interactions with partner proteins including ion and receptor channels. PSD-95 is directly implicated in modulating the electrical responses of excitable cells. The first two PSD-95/Disks Large/Zona Occludens domains of PSD-95 have been shown to be the key component in the formation of channel clusters. We report crystal structures of the dual domain in both in apo and ligand-bound form; thermodynamic analysis of ligand association and Small Angle X-ray Scattering of the dual domain in the absence and presence of ligands. These experiments reveal that the ligated double domain forms a scaffold in the complete sense of the word. The concentration of the components in this study is comparable to those found in compartments of excitable cells such as the postsynaptic density and juxta-paranodes of Ranvier. The properties of the dual domain explain the basis of the scaffolding function of PSD-95, and provide a more detailed understanding of the integration of key components of neuronal specializations involved in nervous signal transmission.