Ecotin is a broad range serine protease inhibitor, which forms homodimers. The C-terminal region contains the dimerisation motif [2]. Interestingly, the binding sites show a fluidity of protein contacts binding sites show a fluidity of protein contacts derived from ecotin's innate flexibility in fitting itself to proteases while [4,5].

1: Crystal structure of thrombin-ecotin reveals conformational changes and extended interactions. Wang SX, Esmon CT, Fletterick RJ; Biochemistry 2001;40:10038-10046. PMID:11513582

2: The role of ecotin dimerization in protease inhibition. Eggers CT, Wang SX, Fletterick RJ, Craik CS; J Mol Biol 2001;308:975-991. PMID:11352586

3: Ecotin: a serine protease inhibitor with two distinct and interacting binding sites. Yang SQ, Wang CI, Gillmor SA, Fletterick RJ, Craik CS; J Mol Biol 1998;279:945-957. PMID:9642073

4: Ecotin: lessons on survival in a protease-filled world. McGrath ME, Gillmor SA, Fletterick RJ; Protein Sci 1995;4:141-148. PMID:7757004

5: Macromolecular chelation as an improved mechanism of protease inhibition: structure of the ecotin-trypsin complex. McGrath ME, Erpel T, Bystroff C, Fletterick RJ; EMBO J 1994;13:1502-1507. PMID:8156987