Dynamin is a protein that catalyses the fission of clathrin-coated endocytic vesicles from cellular membranes. To carry out fission, it must hydrolyse GTP. The mechanism by which it does so is unknown, although it does require dynamin's GTPase effector domain (GED). Here, the structure of a minimal GTPase–GED fusion protein constructed from human dynamin 1 is presented. The structure reveals the catalytic machinery and provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying dynamin-catalysed membrane fission.
- Joshua S. Chappie
- Sharmistha Acharya
- Fred Dyda