Molecular analysis of the X11-mLin-2/CASK complex in brain.

A heterotrimeric complex containing Lin-10/X11alpha, Lin-2/CASK, and Lin-7 is evolutionarily conserved from worms to mammals. In Caenorhabditis elegans, it localizes Let-23, a receptor tyrosine kinase, to the basolateral side of vulval epithelium, a step crucial for proper vulva development. In mammals, the complex may also participate in receptor targeting in neurons. Accordingly, phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) and postsynaptic density-95/Discs large/Zona Occludens-1 domains found in X11alpha and mLin-2/CASK bind to cell-surface proteins, including amyloid precursor protein, neurexins, and syndecans. In this paper, we have further analyzed the X11alpha-mLin-2/CASK association that is mediated by a novel protein-protein interaction. We show that the mLin-2/CASK calmodulin kinase II (CKII) domain directly binds to a 63 amino acids peptide located between the Munc-18-1 binding site and the PTB domain in X11alpha. Ca2+/calmodulin association with mLin-2/CASK does not modify the X11alpha-mLin-2 interaction. A region containing the mLin-2/CASK guanylate kinase domain also interacts with X11alpha but with a lower affinity than the CKII domain. Immunostaining of X11alpha in the brain shows that the protein is expressed in areas shown previously to be positive for mLin-2/CASK staining. Together, our data demonstrate that the X11alpha-mLin-2 complex contacts many partners, creating a macrocomplex suitable for receptor targeting at the neuronal plasma membrane.

Identification of an evolutionarily conserved heterotrimeric protein complex involved in protein targeting.

In Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-2, lin-7, and lin-10 genetically interact to control the trafficking of the Let-23 growth factor receptor to the basolateral surface of body epithelia. The human homologue of the lin-10 gene has recently been identified as a member of the X11 gene family. The X11 proteins contain one phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) and two PSD-95.Dlg.ZO-1 (PDZ) domains as well as an extended amino terminus. We have previously shown that the PTB domain of X11alpha (also known as Mint1) can bind to the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in a phosphotyrosine-independent fashion and can markedly inhibit the processing of APP to the amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide. Here, we report that X11alpha directly binds to the mammalian homologue of Lin-2 (mLin-2), also known as CASK. This binding is mediated by direct interaction between the Calmodulin Kinase II (CKII)-like domain of mLin-2 and the amino terminus of X11alpha. Furthermore, we can detect direct interactions between mLin-2 and mammalian Lin-7 (mLin-7). In mouse brain, we have identified a heterotrimeric complex that contains mLin-2, mLin-7, and X11alpha and that is likely important for the localization of proteins in polarized cells. This complex may play an important role in the trafficking and processing of APP in neurons.