Structure and Enzymatic Functions of Human CD38

CD38 is a novel multifunctional protein that serves not only as an antigen but also as an enzyme. It catalyzes the metabolism of cyclic ADP-ribose and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate, two structurally and functionally distinct Ca2+ messengers targeting, respectively, the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomal Ca2+ stores. The protein has recently been crystallized and its three-dimensional structure solved to a resolution of 1.9 Å. The crystal structure of a binary complex reveals critical interactions between residues at the active site and a bound substrate, providing mechanistic insights to its novel multi-functional catalysis. This article reviews the current advances in the understanding of the structural determinants that control the multiple enzymatic reactions catalyzed by CD38.