The interaction between nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) and the iron storage protein ferritin is a crucial component of cellular iron homeostasis. The binding of NCOA4 to the FTH1 subunits of ferritin initiates ferritinophagy-a ferritin-specific autophagic pathway leading to the release of the iron stored inside ferritin. The dysregulation of NCOA4 is associated with several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer, highlighting the NCOA4-ferritin interface as a prime target for drug development. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the NCOA4-FTH1 interface, resolving 16 amino acids of NCOA4 that are crucial for the interaction. The characterization of mutants, designed to modulate the NCOA4-FTH1 interaction, is used to validate the significance of the different features of the binding site. Our results explain the role of the large solvent-exposed hydrophobic patch found on the surface of FTH1 and pave the way for the rational development of ferritinophagy modulators.
Cryoelectron Microscopy , Ferritins , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators , Ferritins/metabolism , Ferritins/chemistry , Ferritins/genetics , Humans , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/metabolism , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/chemistry , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/genetics , Protein Binding , Binding Sites , Iron/metabolism , Autophagy , Models, Molecular , HEK293 Cells , Oxidoreductases/metabolism , Oxidoreductases/chemistry , Oxidoreductases/genetics , Proteolysis , Mutation
