PDZ Domains: Structural Modules for Protein Complex Assembly

PDZ domains1 are modular protein interaction domains that play a role in protein targeting and protein complex assembly. Once termed Discs-large homology regions (DHRs) or GLGF repeats (after a conserved Gly-Leu-Gly-Phe sequence found within the domain), these domains of ∼90 amino acids are now primarily known by an acronym of the first three PDZ-containing proteins identified: the postsynaptic protein PSD-95/SAP90, theDrosophila septate junction protein Discs-large, and the tight junction protein ZO-1.