Microtubule association of EML proteins and the EML4-ALK variant 3 oncoprotein require an N-terminal trimerization domain

We present crystal structures of a trimeric coiled-coil domain found in echinoderm microtubule (MT)-associated protein (EMAP)-like (EML) proteins. This trimerization domain (TD) mediates self-association and interactions between a subset of EML proteins. MT-association of EML proteins requires the TD and an adjacent basic region.