Crystal structure of a single-chain trimer of human adiponectin globular domain

Adiponectin is increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. It circulates in plasma as homotrimers and higher-order oliogomers of homotrimers. To facilitate the production of active recombinant adiponectin as a therapeutic tool, we designed a single-chain globular domain adiponectin (sc-gAd) in which three monomer sequences are linked together in tandem to form one contiguous polypeptide. Here, we present the crystal structure of human sc-gAd at 2.0 Å resolution. The structure reveals a similar trimeric topology to that of mouse gAd protein. Trimer formation is further rigidified by three calcium ions.

► We solved the structure of a single-chain trimer of human adiponectiin globular domain. ► The structure revealed a trimeric topology similar to other C1q family proteins. ► The trimeric formation is rigidified by three intrinsic calcium ions.