A novel BICD2 mutation of a patient with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Lower Extremity Predominant 2.

The bicaudal D homolog 2 (BICD2) gene encodes a protein required for the stable complex of dynein and dynactin, which functions as a motor protein working along the microtubule cytoskeleton. Both inherited and de novo variants of BICD2 are reported with autosomal dominant spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance (SMALED2). Here, we report a male patient with a novel mutation in the BICD2 gene caused by a heterozygous substitution of arginine with cysteine at residue 162 (Arg162Cys); inherited from his asymptomatic mother. The patient showed typical clinical symptoms of SMALED2, which was genetically confirmed by sequencing. The Arg162Cys mutant clusters with four previously reported variants (c.361C>G, p.Leu121Val; c.581A>G, p.Gln194Arg; c.320C>T, p.Ser107Leu; c.565A>T, p.Ile189Phe) in a region that binds to the dynein-dynactin complex (DDC). The BICD2 domain structures were predicted and the Arg162Cys mutation was localized in the N-terminus coiled-coil segment 1 (CC1) domain. Protein modeling of BICD2's CC1 domain predicted that the Arg162Cys missense variant disrupted interactions with dynein cytoplasmic 1 heavy chain 1 within the DDC. The mutant did this by either changing the electrostatic surface potential or making a broader hydrophobic unit with the neighboring residues. This hereditary case supports the complex and broad genotype-phenotype correlation of BICD2 mutations, which could be explained by incomplete penetrance or variable expressivity in the next generation.

Intramolecular interaction in LGN, an adaptor protein that regulates mitotic spindle orientation.

Proper mitotic spindle orientation requires that astral microtubules are connected to the cell cortex by the microtubule-binding protein NuMA, which is recruited from the cytoplasm. Cortical recruitment of NuMA is at least partially mediated via direct binding to the adaptor protein LGN. LGN normally adopts a closed conformation via an intramolecular interaction between its N-terminal NuMA-binding domain and its C-terminal region that contains four GoLoco (GL) motifs, each capable of binding to the membrane-anchored Gαi subunit of heterotrimeric G protein. Here we show that the intramolecular association with the N-terminal domain in LGN involves GL3, GL4, and a region between GL2 and GL3, whereas GL1 and GL2 do not play a major role. This conformation renders GL1 but not the other GL motifs in a state easily accessible to Gαi To interact with full-length LGN in a closed state, NuMA requires the presence of Gαi; both NuMA and Gαi are essential for cortical recruitment of LGN in mitotic cells. In contrast, mInsc, a protein that competes with NuMA for binding to LGN and regulates mitotic spindle orientation in asymmetric cell division, efficiently binds to full-length LGN without Gαi and induces its conformational change, enhancing its association with Gαi In nonpolarized symmetrically dividing HeLa cells, disruption of the LGN-NuMA interaction by ectopic expression of mInsc results in a loss of cortical localization of NuMA during metaphase and anaphase and promotes mitotic spindle misorientation and a delayed anaphase progression. These findings highlight a specific role for LGN-mediated cell cortex recruitment of NuMA.

Ric-8A-mediated stabilization of the trimeric G protein subunit Gαi is inhibited by pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation.

The heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gαi can be activated by G protein-coupled receptors and the cytosolic protein Ric-8A, the latter of which is also known to prevent ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Gαi. Here we show that the amounts of the three Gαi-related proteins Gαi1, Gαi2, and Gαi3, but not that of Gαq, are rapidly decreased by cell treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX). The decrease appears to be due to ADP-ribosylation of Gαi, because PTX treatment does not affect the amount of a mutant Gαi2 carrying alanine substitution for Cys352, the residue that is ADP-ribosylated by the toxin. The presence of endogenous and exogenous Ric-8A increases Gαi stability as shown in cells treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide; however, Ric-8A fails to efficiently stabilize ADP-ribosylated Gαi. The failure agrees with the inability of Ric-8A to bind to ADP-ribosylated Gαi both in vitro and in vivo. Thus PTX appears to exert its pathological effects at least in part by converting Gαi to an unstable ADP-ribosylated form, in addition to the well-known inability of ADP-ribosylated Gαi to transduce signals triggered by G protein-coupled receptors.

Structural basis for the recognition of the scaffold protein Frmpd4/Preso1 by the TPR domain of the adaptor protein LGN.

The adaptor protein LGN interacts via the N-terminal domain comprising eight tetratricopeptide-repeat (TPR) motifs with its partner proteins mInsc, NuMA, Frmpd1 and Frmpd4 in a mutually exclusive manner. Here, the crystal structure of the LGN TPR domain in complex with human Frmpd4 is described at 1.5 Å resolution. In the complex, the LGN-binding region of Frmpd4 (amino-acid residues 990-1011) adopts an extended structure that runs antiparallel to LGN along the concave surface of the superhelix formed by the TPR motifs. Comparison with the previously determined structures of the LGN-Frmpd1, LGN-mInsc and LGN-NuMA complexes reveals that these partner proteins interact with LGN TPR1-6 via a common core binding region with consensus sequence (E/Q)XEX4-5(E/D/Q)X1-2(K/R)X0-1(V/I). In contrast to Frmpd1, Frmpd4 makes additional contacts with LGN via regions N- and C-terminal to the core sequence. The N-terminal extension is replaced by a specific α-helix in mInsc, which drastically increases the direct contacts with LGN TPR7/8, consistent with the higher affinity of mInsc for LGN. A crystal structure of Frmpd4-bound LGN in an oxidized form is also reported, although oxidation does not appear to strongly affect the interaction with Frmpd4.

Structural basis of cofactor-mediated stabilization and substrate recognition of the α-tubulin acetyltransferase αTAT1.

The functions of microtubules are controlled in part by tubulin post-translational modification including acetylation of Lys4° in α-tubulin. αTAT1 (α-tubulin acetyltransferase 1), an enzyme evolutionarily conserved among eukaryotes, has recently been identified as the major α-tubulin Lys4° acetyltransferase, in which AcCoA (acetyl-CoA) serves as an acetyl group donor. The regulation and substrate recognition of this enzyme, however, have not been fully understood. In the present study, we show that AcCoA and CoA each form a stable complex with human αTAT1 to maintain the protein integrity both in vivo and in vitro. The invariant residues Arg¹³² and Ser¹6° in αTAT1 participate in the stable interaction not only with AcCoA but also with CoA, which is supported by analysis of the present crystal structures of the αTAT1 catalytic domain in complex with CoA. Alanine substitution for Arg¹³² or Ser¹6° leads to a drastic misfolding of the isolated αTAT1 catalytic domain in the absence of CoA and AcCoA but not in the presence of excess amounts of either cofactor. A mutant αTAT1 carrying the R132A or S160A substitution is degraded much faster than the wild-type protein when expressed in mammalian Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Furthermore, alanine-scanning experiments using Lys4°-containing peptides reveal that α-tubulin Ser³8 is crucial for substrate recognition of αTAT1, whereas Asp³9, Ile4², the glycine stretch (amino acid residues 43-45) and Asp46 are also involved. The requirement for substrate selection is totally different from that in various histone acetyltransferases, which appears to be consistent with the inability of αTAT1 to acetylate histones.

Ubiquitination of the heterotrimeric G protein α subunits Gαi2 and Gαq is prevented by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Ric-8A.

The cytosolic protein Ric-8A acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Gα subunits of the Gi, Gq, and G12/13 classes of heterotrimeric G protein in vitro, and is also known to increase the amounts of these Gα proteins in vivo. The mechanism whereby Ric-8 regulates Gα content, however, has not been fully understood. Here we show that Ric-8 Astabilizes Gαi2 and Gαq by preventing their ubiquitination. Ric-8A interacts with and stabilizes Gαi2, Gαq, Gα12, but not Gαs, when expressed in COS-7 cells. The protein levels of Gαi2 and Gαq appear to be controlled via the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway, because these Gα subunits undergo polyubiquitination and are stabilized with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. The ubiquitination of Gαi2 and Gαq is suppressed by expression of Ric-8A. The suppression likely requires Ric-8A interaction with these Gα proteins; the C-terminal truncation of Gαq and Gαi2 completely abrogates their interaction with Ric-8A, their stabilization by Ric-8A, and Ric-8A-mediated inhibition of Gα ubiquitination.

Crystal structure of the C-terminal globular domain of oligosaccharyltransferase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus at 1.75 Å resolution.

Protein N-glycosylation occurs in the three domains of life. Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) transfers glycan to asparagine in the N-glycosylation sequon. The catalytic subunit of OST is called STT3 in eukaryotes, AglB in archaea, and PglB in eubacteria. The genome of a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, encodes three AglB paralogs. Two of them are the shortest AglBs across all domains of life. We determined the crystal structure of the C-terminal globular domain of the smallest AglB to identify the minimal structural unit. The Archaeoglobus AglB lacked a ß-barrel-like structure, which had been found in other AglB and PglB structures. In agreement, the deletion in a larger Pyrococcus AglB confirmed its dispensability for the activity. By contrast, the Archaeoglobus AglB contains a kinked helix bearing a conserved motif, called DK/MI motif. The lysine and isoleucine residues in the motif participate in the Ser/Thr recognition in the sequon. The Archaeoglobus AglB structure revealed that the kinked helix contained an unexpected insertion. A revised sequence alignment based on this finding identified a variant type of the DK motif with the insertion. A mutagenesis study of the Archaeoglobus AglB confirmed the contribution of this particular type of the DK motif to the activity. When taken together with our previous results, this study defined the classification of OST: one group consisting of eukaryotes and most archaea possesses the DK-type Ser/Thr pocket, and the other group consisting of eubacteria and the remaining archaea possesses the MI-type Ser/Thr pocket. This classification provides a useful framework for OST studies.

Structural basis for interaction between the conserved cell polarity proteins Inscuteable and Leu-Gly-Asn repeat-enriched protein (LGN).

Interaction between the mammalian cell polarity proteins mInsc (mammalian homologue of Inscuteable) and Leu-Gly-Asn repeat-enriched protein (LGN), as well as that between their respective Drosophila homologues Inscuteable and Partner of Inscuteable (Pins), plays crucial roles in mitotic spindle orientation, a process contributing to asymmetric cell division. Here, we report a crystal structure of the LGN-binding domain (LBD) of human mInsc complexed with the N-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs of human LGN at 2.6-Å resolution. In the complex, mInsc-LBD adopts an elongated structure with three binding modules--an α-helix, an extended region, and a ß-sheet connected with a loop--that runs antiparallel to LGN along the concave surface of the superhelix formed by the TPRs. Structural analysis and structure-based mutagenesis define residues that are critical for mInsc-LGN association, and reveal that the activator of G-protein signaling 3 (AGS3)-binding protein Frmpd1 [4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM) and PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-containing protein 1] and its relative Frmpd4 interact with LGN via a region homologous to a part of mInsc-LBD, whereas nuclear mitotic apparatus protein (NuMA) and the C terminus of LGN recognize the TPR domain in a manner different from that by mInsc. mInsc binds to LGN with the highest affinity (K(D) ≈ 2.4 nM) and effectively replaces the Frmpd proteins, NuMA, and the LGN C terminus, suggesting the priority of mInsc in binding to LGN. We also demonstrate, using mutant proteins, that mInsc-LGN interaction is vital for stabilization of LGN and for intracellular localization of mInsc.

A conserved region between the TPR and activation domains of p67phox participates in activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase, dormant in resting cells, is activated during phagocytosis to produce superoxide, a precursor of microbicidal oxidants. The membrane-integrated protein gp91(phox) serves as the catalytic core, because it contains a complete electron-transporting apparatus from NADPH to molecular oxygen for superoxide production. Activation of gp91(phox) requires the cytosolic proteins p67(phox), p47(phox), and Rac (a small GTPase). p67(phox), comprising 526 amino acids, moves upon cell stimulation to the membrane together with p47(phox) and there interacts with Rac; these processes are prerequisite for gp91(phox) activation. Here we show that a region of p67(phox) (amino acids 190-200) C-terminal to the Rac-binding domain is evolutionarily well conserved and participates in oxidase activation at a later stage in conjunction with an activation domain. Alanine substitution for Tyr-198, Leu-199, or Val-204 abrogates the ability of p67(phox) to support superoxide production by gp91(phox)-based oxidase as well as its related oxidases Nox1 and Nox3; the activation also involves other invariant residues such as Leu-193, Asp-197, and Gly-200. Intriguingly, replacement of Gln-192 by alanine or that of Tyr-198 by phenylalanine or tryptophan rather enhances superoxide production by gp91(phox)-based oxidase, suggesting a tuning role for these residues. Furthermore, the Y198A/V204A or L199A/V204A substitution leads to not only a complete loss of the activity of the reconstituted oxidase system but also a significant decrease in p67(phox) interaction with the gp91(phox) NADPH-binding domain, although these mutations affect neither the protein integrity nor the Rac binding activity. Thus the extended activation domain of p67(phox) (amino acids 190-210) containing the D(Y/F)LGK motif plays an essential role in oxidase activation probably by interacting with gp91(phox).

The selectivity of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling is controlled by a secondary SH2 domain binding site.

SH2 domain-mediated interactions represent a crucial step in transmembrane signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases. SH2 domains recognize phosphotyrosine (pY) in the context of particular sequence motifs in receptor phosphorylation sites. However, the modest binding affinity of SH2 domains to pY containing peptides may not account for and likely represents an oversimplified mechanism for regulation of selectivity of signaling pathways in living cells. Here we describe the crystal structure of the activated tyrosine kinase domain of FGFR1 in complex with a phospholipase Cgamma fragment. The structural and biochemical data and experiments with cultured cells show that the selectivity of phospholipase Cgamma binding and signaling via activated FGFR1 are determined by interactions between a secondary binding site on an SH2 domain and a region in FGFR1 kinase domain in a phosphorylation independent manner. These experiments reveal a mechanism for how SH2 domain selectivity is regulated in vivo to mediate a specific cellular process.

Crystal structures of free and ligand-bound focal adhesion targeting domain of Pyk2.

Focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domains target the non-receptor tyrosine kinases FAK and Pyk2 to cellular focal adhesion areas, where the signaling molecule paxillin is also located. Here, we report the crystal structures of the Pyk2 FAT domain alone or in complex with paxillin LD4 peptides. The overall structure of Pyk2-FAT is an antiparallel four-helix bundle with an up-down, up-down, right-handed topology. In the LD4-bound FAT complex, two paxillin LD4 peptides interact with two opposite sides of Pyk2-FAT, at the surfaces of the alpha1alpha4 and alpha2alpha3 helices of each FAT molecule. We also demonstrate that, while paxillin is phosphorylated by Pyk2, complex formation between Pyk2 and paxillin does not depend on Pyk2 tyrosine kinase activity. These experiments reveal the structural basis underlying the selectivity of paxillin LD4 binding to the Pyk2 FAT domain and provide insights about the molecular details which influence the different behavior of these two closely-related kinases.

The domain organization of p67 phox, a protein required for activation of the superoxide-producing NADPH oxidase in phagocytes.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase, crucial for innate immunity, is dormant in resting cells, but becomes activated during phagocytosis to produce superoxide, a precursor of microbicidal oxidants. In activation of the oxidase, the multidomain protein p67(phox)plays a central role: it translocates to the membrane as a ternary complex with p47(phox)and p40(phox), and interacts with the small GTPase Rac to assemble with the membrane-integrated catalytic protein gp91(phox), leading to superoxide production. Here we show, using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis, that p67(phox)adopts an elongated conformation when it exists not only as a monomer but also as the heterotrimer. Although p67(phox)harbors an N-terminal TPR domain for binding to Rac and a p40(phox)-interacting PB1 domain, followed by an SH3 domain that associates with p47(phox), the present model suggests that no or few apparent associations occur between the domains. The positions of the protein-interaction domains in p67(phox)contribute to activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase: the first SH3 domain that is located between the TPR and PB1 domains positively regulates oxidase activation only when it is present at the correct position; the PB1 domain placed at this SH3 domain position inhibits the oxidase by interacting with p40(phox).

Solution structure of the Grb2 SH2 domain complexed with a high-affinity inhibitor.

The solution structure of the growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) SH2 domain complexed with a high-affinity inhibitor containing a non-phosphorus phosphate mimetic within a macrocyclic platform was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Unambiguous assignments of the bound inhibitor and intermolecular NOEs between the Grb2 SH2 domain and the inhibitor was accomplished using perdeuterated Grb2 SH2 protein. The well-defined solution structure of the complex was obtained and compared to those by X-ray crystallography. Since the crystal structure of the Grb2 SH2 domain formed a domain-swapped dimer and several inhibitors were bound to a hinge region, there were appreciable differences between the solution and crystal structures. Based on the binding interactions between the inhibitor and the Grb2 SH2 domain in solution, we proposed a design of second-generation inhibitors that could be expected to have higher affinity.

Contacts between membrane proximal regions of the PDGF receptor ectodomain are required for receptor activation but not for receptor dimerization.

The mechanism of PDGF-receptor beta (PDGFRbeta) activation was explored by analyzing the properties of mutant receptors designed based on the crystal structure of the extracellular region of the related receptor tyrosine kinase KIT/stem cell factor receptor. Here, we demonstrate that PDGF-induced activation of a PDGFRbeta mutated in Arg-385 or Glu-390 in D4 (the fourth Ig-like domain of the extracellular region) was compromised, resulting in impairment of a variety of PDGF-induced cellular responses. These experiments demonstrate that homotypic D4 interactions probably mediated by salt bridges between Arg-385 and Glu-390 play an important role in activation of PDGFRbeta and all type III receptor tyrosine kinases. We also used a chemical cross-linking agent to covalently cross-link PDGF-stimulated cells to demonstrate that a Glu390Ala mutant of PDGFRbeta undergoes typical PDGF-induced receptor dimerization. However, unlike WT PDGFR that is expressed on the surface of ligand-stimulated cells in an active state, PDGF-induced Glu390Ala dimers are inactive. Although the conserved amino acids that are required for mediating D4 homotypic interactions are crucial for PDGFRbeta activation, these interactions are dispensable for PDGFRbeta dimerization. Moreover, PDGFRbeta dimerization is necessary but not sufficient for tyrosine kinase activation.

Lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome is caused by reduced activity of the fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10)-FGF receptor 2 signaling pathway.

Lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital (LADD) syndrome is characterized by abnormalities in lacrimal and salivary glands, in teeth, and in the distal limbs. Genetic studies have implicated heterozygous mutations in fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) and in FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) in LADD syndrome. However, it is not clear whether LADD syndrome mutations (LADD mutations) are gain- or loss-of-function mutations. In order to reveal the molecular mechanism underlying LADD syndrome, we have compared the biological properties of FGF10 LADD and FGFR2 LADD mutants to the activities of their normal counterparts. These experiments show that the biological activities of three different FGF10 LADD mutants are severely impaired by different mechanisms. Moreover, haploinsufficiency caused by defective FGF10 mutants leads to LADD syndrome. We also demonstrate that the tyrosine kinase activities of FGFR2 LADD mutants expressed in transfected cells are strongly compromised. Since tyrosine kinase activity is stimulated by ligand-induced receptor dimerization, FGFR2 LADD mutants may also exert a dominant inhibitory effect on signaling via wild-type FGFR2 expressed in the same cell. These experiments underscore the importance of signal strength in mediating biological responses and that relatively small changes in receptor signaling may influence the outcome of developmental processes in cells or organs that do not possess redundant signaling pathway.

Structural basis for activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT by stem cell factor.

Stem Cell Factor (SCF) initiates its multiple cellular responses by binding to the ectodomain of KIT, resulting in tyrosine kinase activation. We describe the crystal structure of the entire ectodomain of KIT before and after SCF stimulation. The structures show that KIT dimerization is driven by SCF binding whose sole role is to bring two KIT molecules together. Receptor dimerization is followed by conformational changes that enable lateral interactions between membrane proximal Ig-like domains D4 and D5 of two KIT molecules. Experiments with cultured cells show that KIT activation is compromised by point mutations in amino acids critical for D4-D4 interaction. Moreover, a variety of oncogenic mutations are mapped to the D5-D5 interface. Since key hallmarks of KIT structures, ligand-induced receptor dimerization, and the critical residues in the D4-D4 interface, are conserved in other receptors, the mechanism of KIT stimulation unveiled in this report may apply for other receptor activation.

Full-length p40phox structure suggests a basis for regulation mechanism of its membrane binding.

The superoxide-producing phagocyte NADPH oxidase is activated during phagocytosis to destroy ingested microbes. The adaptor protein p40phox associates via the PB1 domain with the essential oxidase activator p67phox, and is considered to function by recruiting p67phox to phagosomes; in this process, the PX domain of p40phox binds to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P], a lipid abundant in the phagosomal membrane. Here we show that the PtdIns(3)P-binding activity of p40phox is normally inhibited by the PB1 domain both in vivo and in vitro. The crystal structure of the full-length p40phox reveals that the inhibition is mediated via intramolecular interaction between the PB1 and PX domains. The interface of the p40phox PB1 domain for the PX domain localizes on the opposite side of that for the p67phox PB1 domain, and thus the PB1-mediated PX regulation occurs without preventing the PB1-PB1 association with p67phox.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of p40phox, a regulatory subunit of NADPH oxidase.

p40(phox) is a cytosolic component of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, which is responsible for production of the superoxide that kills invasive microorganisms. Full-length p40(phox) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method at 293 K using polyethylene glycol 20,000 as a precipitant. Diffraction data were collected to 3.0 A resolution at 100 K using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belongs to space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 146.27, b = 189.81, c = 79.88 A. This crystal was estimated to contain two or three protein molecules per asymmetric unit from the acceptable range of volume-to-weight ratio values.

NMR solution structure of the tandem Src homology 3 domains of p47phox complexed with a p22phox-derived proline-rich peptide.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase plays a crucial role in host defense against microbial infections by generating reactive oxygen species. It is a multisubunit enzyme composed of membrane-bound flavocytochrome b558 as well as cytosolic components, including p47phox, which is essential for assembly of the complex. When phagocytes are activated, the cytosolic components of the NADPH oxidase translocate to flavocytochrome b558 due to binding of the tandem Src homology 3 (SH3) domains of p47phox to a proline-rich region in p22phox, a subunit of flavocytochrome b558. Using NMR titration, we first identified the proline-rich region of p22phox that is essential for binding to the tandem SH3 domains of p47phox. We subsequently determined the solution structure of the p47phox tandem SH3 domains complexed with the proline-rich peptide of p22phox using NMR spectroscopy. In contrast to the intertwined dimer reported for the crystal state, the solution structure is a monomer. The central region of the p22phox peptide forms a polyproline type II helix that is sandwiched by the N- and C-terminal SH3 domains, as was observed in the crystal structure, whereas the C-terminal region of the peptide takes on a short alpha-helical conformation that provides an additional binding site with the N-terminal SH3 domain. Thus, the C-terminal alpha-helical region of the p22phox peptide increases the binding affinity for the tandem SH3 domains of p47phox more than 10-fold.