EF-Hand

An EF - hand is a specific amino acid motif in proteins. The subject is a so-called helix-loop- helix motif with charged amino acids, which bind Ca2 ions. Caused by the binding of calcium to change the conformation of the protein and thus can change its function. The name comes from the EF-hand nomenclature in the study of parvalbumin, which has three EF-hand motifs. EF-hand motifs are found among others in the signaling protein calmodulin and troponin in the muscle protein C.