Mapping conserved and variable residues onto the granulin fold.

<p>The 3D structure of the well-folded granulin A (MMDB ID: 63884; PDB ID: 2JYE) was used as a model for illustrating conserved and variable residues in mammalian granulin modules. A: Highly conserved residues in all granulin modules are rendered with space-fill side chains. With no side chain, conserved glycine shows only as tube backbone. B: The residues highly conserved within granulin A in 37 mammalian species are shown with space fill rendition of side chains. Colouring is specified in the key. More variable residue positions are shown in grey. (Amino acids depicted as coloured tube backbones in A correspond to the space-filled residues in B, and vice-versa).