Structural basis for receptor recognition of vitamin-B12–intrinsic factor complexes

Gp280/Intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 receptor/Cubilin (CUBN) is a large endocytic receptor serving multiple functions in vitamin B12 homeostasis, renal reabsorption of protein or toxic substances including albumin, vitamin D-binding protein or cadmium. Cubilin is a peripheral membrane protein consisting of 8 Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)-like repeats and 27 CUB (defined as Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, BMP1) domains. This structurally unique protein interacts with at least two molecular partners, Amnionless (AMN) and Lrp2/Megalin. AMN is involved in appropriate plasma membrane transport of Cubilin whereas Lrp2 is essential for efficient internalization of Cubilin and its ligands. Observations gleaned from animal models with Cubn deficiency or human diseases demonstrate the importance of this protein. In this review addressed to basic research and medical scientists, we summarize currently available data on Cubilin and its implication in renal and intestinal biology. We also discuss the role of Cubilin as a modulator of Fgf8 signaling during embryonic development and propose that the Cubilin-Fgf8 interaction may be relevant in human pathology, including in cancer progression, heart or neural tube defects. We finally provide experimental elements suggesting that some aspects of Cubilin physiology might be relevant in drug design.

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Divalent cations and vitamin B12 uptake by intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.1980.239.6.g452 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 239 (6) ◽

pp. G452-G456

Author(s):

R. C. Beesley ◽

C. D. Bacheller

Keyword(s):

Vitamin B12 ◽

Brush Border ◽

Brush Border Membrane ◽

Divalent Cations ◽

Intrinsic Factor ◽

Membrane Vesicles ◽

Brush Border Membrane Vesicles ◽

Tetraacetic Acid ◽

Intestinal Brush Border Membrane ◽

Intestinal Brush Border

Brush-border membrane vesicles from hamster intestine were employed to investigate uptake (binding) of vitamin B12 (B12). Ileal vesicles took up 25 times more B12 than did jejunal vesicles. Uptake of B12 by ileal vesicles was dependent on intrinsic factor (IF) and required Ca2+. Increasing the Ca2+ concentration caused an increase in uptake of B12 reaching a maximum at approximately 8 mM Ca2+. At high Ca2+ concentrations, 6–8 mM, Mg2+ had little effect on uptake of B12. At low Ca2+ concentrations, up to 2 mM, Mg2+ stimulated B12 uptake. Mg2+, Mn2+, and, to a lesser extent, Sr2+ stimulated Ca2+-dependent B12 uptake, but Zn2+, Ba2+, Na+, K+, and La3+ did not. B12 was apparently not metabolized and was bound as IF-B12 complex, which could be removed with (ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Our results suggest that two types of divalent cation reactive sites are involved in binding of IF-B12. One is Ca2+ specific. The other is less specific reacting with Mg2+, Mn2+, Sr2+, and perhaps Ca2+ itself, thereby stimulating Ca2+-dependent binding of IF-B12 to its ileal receptor.

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