Programmed cell death 10 protein (PDCD10/CCM3) is part of the CCM complex and is required for neuronal migration [1]. Outside of this complex, it is crucial in vascularization and in angiogenesis as it functions in vessel permeability and stability [2]. This protein plays an essential role in early embryonic angiogenesis and cardiovascular development [6]. PDCD10/CCM3 interacts with a variety of proteins, including paxillin, membrane receptor vascular epidermal growth factor receptor 2, CCM complex component CCM2 and germinal center kinase III proteins (GCKIII). It consists of a N-terminal dimerisation domain and a C-terminal focal adhesion targeting-homology (FAT-H) domain (Pfam:PF06840) [3]. This entry represents the N-terminal dimerisation domain, consisting of four alpha-helices [3,4,5,6]. This domain is also found at the C-terminal of GCKIIIs (STK24/MST3, STK25, STK26/MST4), which adopts a closely related fold. GCKIIIs are involved in the regulation of apoptosis, cell proliferation, polarity, migration, and cytoskeleton remodelling. This domain mediates homo and heterodimerisation [5,6]. PDCD10/CCM3 forms a heterodimer with GCKIIIs analogous to CCM3 homodimer.

1: Ccm3, a gene associated with cerebral cavernous malformations, is required for neuronal migration. Louvi A, Nishimura S, Gunel M; Development. 2014;141:1404-1415. PMID:24595293

2: Downregulation of programmed cell death 10 is associated with tumor cell proliferation, hyperangiogenesis and peritumoral edema in human glioblastoma. Lambertz N, El Hindy N, Kreitschmann-Andermahr I, Stein KP, Dammann P, Oezkan N, Mueller O, Sure U, Zhu Y; BMC Cancer. 2015;15:759. PMID:26490252

3: Cerebral cavernous malformation proteins at a glance. Draheim KM, Fisher OS, Boggon TJ, Calderwood DA; J Cell Sci. 2014;127:701-707. PMID:24481819

4: Crystal structure of CCM3, a cerebral cavernous malformation protein critical for vascular integrity. Li X, Zhang R, Zhang H, He Y, Ji W, Min W, Boggon TJ; J Biol Chem. 2010;285:24099-24107. PMID:20489202

5: Structural basis for the unique heterodimeric assembly between cerebral cavernous malformation 3 and germinal center kinase III. Xu X, Wang X, Zhang Y, Wang DC, Ding J; Structure. 2013;21:1059-1066. PMID:23665169

6: Structural mechanism of CCM3 heterodimerization with GCKIII kinases. Zhang M, Dong L, Shi Z, Jiao S, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Liu G, Chen C, Feng M, Hao Q, Wang W, Yin M, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Zhou Z; Structure. 2013;21:680-688. PMID:23541896