Biochemical Journal最新文献

Myc proteins are transcription factors crucial for cell proliferation. They have a C-terminal domain that mediates Max and DNA binding, and an N-terminal disordered region culminating in the transactivation domain (TAD). The TAD participates in many protein-protein interactions, notably with kinases that promote stability (Aurora-A) or degradation (ERK1, GSK3) via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We probed the structure, dynamics and interactions of N-myc TAD using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy following its complete backbone assignment. Chemical shift analysis revealed that N-myc has two regions with clear helical propensity: Trp77-Glu86 and Ala122-Glu132. These regions also have more restricted ps-ns motions than the rest of the TAD, and, along with the phosphodegron, have comparatively high transverse (R2) 15N relaxation rates, indicative of slower timescale dynamics and/or chemical exchange. Collectively these features suggest differential propensities for structure and interaction, either internal or with binding partners, across the TAD. Solution studies on the interaction between N-myc and Aurora-A revealed a previously uncharacterised binding site. The specificity and kinetics of sequential phosphorylation of N-myc by ERK1 and GSK3 were characterised using NMR and resulted in no significant structural changes outside the phosphodegron. When the phosphodegron was doubly phosphorylated, N-myc formed a robust interaction with the Fbxw7-Skp1 complex, but mapping the interaction by NMR suggests a more extensive interface. Our study provides foundational insights into N-myc TAD dynamics and a backbone assignment that will underpin future work on the structure, dynamics, interactions and regulatory post-translational modifications of this key oncoprotein.

Histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7) is a member of the class IIa family of classical HDACs with important roles in cell development, differentiation, and activation, including in macrophages and other innate immune cells. HDAC7 and other class IIa HDACs act as transcriptional repressors in the nucleus but, in some cell types, they can also act in the cytoplasm to modify non-nuclear proteins and/or scaffold signalling complexes. In macrophages, HDAC7 is a cytoplasmic protein with both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions, with the latter activity involving activation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and the generation of anti-inflammatory metabolite ribulose-5-phosphate. Here, we used ectopic expression systems and biochemical approaches to investigate the mechanism by which HDAC7 promotes 6PGD enzyme activity. We reveal that HDAC7 enzyme activity is not required for its activation of 6PGD and that the N-terminal protein-protein interaction domain of HDAC7 is sufficient to initiate this response. Mechanistically, the N-terminus of HDAC7 increases the affinity of 6PGD for NADP+, promotes the generation of a shorter form of 6PGD, and enhances the formation of higher order protein complexes, implicating its scaffolding function in engagement of the PPP. This contrasts with the pro-inflammatory function of HDAC7 in macrophages, in which it promotes deacetylation of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 for inflammatory cytokine production.

Platelets are critical mediators of hemostasis and thrombosis. Platelets circulate as discs in their resting form but change shape rapidly upon activation by vascular damage and/or soluble agonists such as thrombin. Platelet shape change is driven by a dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Actin filaments interact with the protein myosin, which is phosphorylated on the myosin light chain (MLC) upon platelet activation. Actin-myosin interactions trigger contraction of the actin cytoskeleton, which drives platelet spreading and contractile force generation. Filamin A (FLNA) is an actin cross-linking protein that stabilizes the attachment between subcortical actin filaments and the cell membrane. In addition, FLNA binds multiple proteins and serves as a critical intracellular signaling scaffold. Here, we used platelets from mice with a megakaryocyte/platelet-specific deletion of FLNA to investigate the role of FLNA in regulating platelet shape change. Relative to controls, FLNA-null platelets exhibited defects in stress fiber formation, contractile force generation, and MLC phosphorylation in response to thrombin stimulation. Blockade of Rho kinase (ROCK) and protein kinase C (PKC) with the inhibitors Y27632 and bisindolylmaleimide (BIM), respectively, also attenuated MLC phosphorylation; our data further indicate that ROCK and PKC promote MLC phosphorylation through independent pathways. Notably, the activity of both ROCK and PKC was diminished in the FLNA-deficient platelets. We conclude that FLNA regulates thrombin-induced MLC phosphorylation and platelet contraction, in a ROCK- and PKC-dependent manner.

The DP1 family of integral membrane proteins stabilize high membrane curvature in the endoplasmic reticulum and phagophores. Mutations in the human DP1 gene REEP1 are associated with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia type 31 and distal hereditary motor neuropathy. Four missense mutations map to a putative dimerization interface but the impact of these mutations on DP1 structure and tubule formation are unknown. Combining biophysical measurements, functional assays, and computational modeling in the context of the model protein Yop1, we found that missense mutations have variable effects on DP1 dimer structure and in vitro tubulation activity, and provide mechanistic insights into the role of DP1 oligomerisation on membrane curvature stabilization. Whereas the mutations P71L and S75F decreased dimer homogeneity and led to polydisperse oligomerization and impaired membrane curving activity, A72E introduced new polar interactions between subunits that stabilized the Yop1 dimer and allowed robust tubule formation but prevented formation of more highly-curved lipoprotein particles (LPP). The introduction of a BRIL domain to the cytoplasmic loop of A72E rescued LPP formation, consistent with a requirement for dimer splaying in highly curved membranes. These results suggest that the membrane curving activity of DP1 proteins requires both dimer stability and conformational plasticity at the intermolecular interface.

Adaptor proteins play central roles in the assembly of molecular complexes and co-ordinated activation of specific pathways. Through their modular domain structure, the NCK family of adaptor proteins (NCK1 and NCK2) link protein targets via their single SRC Homology (SH) 2 and three SH3 domains. Classically, their SH2 domain binds to phosphotyrosine motif-containing receptors (e.g. receptor tyrosine kinases), while their SH3 domains bind polyproline motif-containing cytoplasmic effectors. Due to these functions being established for both NCK1 and NCK2, their roles were inaccurately assumed to be redundant. However, in contrast with this previously held view, NCK1 and NCK2 now have a growing list of paralog-specific functions, which underscores the need to further explore their differences. Here we review current evidence detailing how these two paralogs are unique, including differences in their gene/protein regulation, binding partners and overall contributions to cellular functions. To help explain these contrasting characteristics, we then discuss SH2/SH3 structural features, disordered interdomain linker regions and post-translational modifications. Together, this review seeks to highlight the importance of distinguishing NCK1 and NCK2 in research and to pave the way for investigations into the origins of their interaction specificity.