scholarly journals Domains of alpha-SNAP required for the stimulation of exocytosis and for N-ethylmalemide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) binding and activation.

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Barnard ◽  
A Morgan ◽  
R D Burgoyne

The binding of alpha-SNAP to the membrane proteins syntaxin, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin leads to the recruitment of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF). ATP hydrolysis by NSF has been suggested to drive conformational changes in one or more of these membrane proteins that are essential for regulated exocytosis. Functional evidence for a role of alpha-SNAP in exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells comes from the ability of this protein to stimulate Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis in digitonin-permeabilized cells. Here we examine the effect of a series of deletion mutants of alpha-SNAP on exocytosis, and on the ability of alpha-SNAP to interact with NSF, to define essential domains involved in protein-protein interactions in exocytosis. Deletion of extreme N- or C-terminal regions of alpha-SNAP produced proteins unable to bind to syntaxin or to stimulate exocytosis, suggesting that these domains participate in essential interactions. Deletion of C-terminal residues abolished the ability of alpha-SNAP to bind NSF. In contrast, deletion of up to 120 N-terminal residues did not prevent the binding of NSF to immobilized alpha-SNAP and such mutants were also able to stimulate the ATPase activity of NSF. These results suggest that the C-terminus, but not the N-terminus, of alpha-SNAP is crucial for interactions with NSF. The involvement of the C-terminus of alpha-SNAP, which contains a predicted coiled-coil domain, in the binding of both syntaxin and NSF would place the latter two proteins in proximity in a ternary complex whereupon the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis by NSF could induce a conformational change in syntaxin required for exocytosis to proceed.

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (8) ◽  
pp. 2815-2825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Gonzalez ◽  
Jon Beckwith

ABSTRACT Cell division in bacteria requires the coordinated action of a set of proteins, the divisome, for proper constriction of the cell envelope. Multiple protein-protein interactions are required for assembly of a stable divisome. Within the Escherichia coli divisome is a conserved subcomplex of inner membrane proteins, the FtsB/FtsL/FtsQ complex, which is necessary for linking the upstream division proteins, which are predominantly cytoplasmic, with the downstream division proteins, which are predominantly periplasmic. FtsB and FtsL are small bitopic membrane proteins with predicted coiled-coil motifs, which themselves form a stable subcomplex that can recruit downstream division proteins independently of FtsQ; however, the details of how FtsB and FtsL interact together and with other proteins remain to be characterized. Despite the small size of FtsB, we identified separate interaction domains of FtsB that are required for interaction with FtsL and FtsQ. The N-terminal half of FtsB is necessary for interaction with FtsL and sufficient, when in complex with FtsL, for recruitment of downstream division proteins, while a portion of the FtsB C terminus is necessary for interaction with FtsQ. These properties of FtsB support the proposal that its main function is as part of a molecular scaffold to allow for proper formation of the divisome.


Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 1859-1871 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Horowitz ◽  
C.A. Berg

Mutations at the pipsqueak locus affect early patterning in the Drosophila egg and embryo. We have cloned pipsqueak and found that it is a large and complex gene, encoding multiple transcripts and protein isoforms. One protein, PsqA, is absent in all of the mutants that we have examined. We show that PsqA is a nuclear protein present in the germ cells and somatically derived follicle cells throughout oogenesis and that it is required prior to stage one of oogenesis. PsqA contains a BTB (POZ) domain at its amino terminus; additionally, we have identified an evolutionarily conserved motif of unknown function present four times in tandem at the C terminus of the protein. PZ pipsqueak mutants produce a putative fusion protein containing the pipsqueak BTB domain fused to sequences resident on the PZ element (H. Horowitz and C. Berg, 1995 Genetics 139, 327–335). We demonstrate here that expression of this fusion protein in wild-type flies has a dominant effect, resulting in infertility and eggshell defects. These dominant phenotypes are discussed in light of current theories on the role of the BTB domain in protein-protein interactions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 9026
Author(s):  
Kenta Renard ◽  
Bernadette Byrne

Membrane proteins exist within the highly hydrophobic membranes surrounding cells and organelles, playing key roles in cellular function. It is becoming increasingly clear that the membrane does not just act as an appropriate environment for these proteins, but that the lipids that make up these membranes are essential for membrane protein structure and function. Recent technological advances in cryogenic electron microscopy and in advanced mass spectrometry methods, as well as the development of alternative membrane mimetic systems, have allowed experimental study of membrane protein–lipid complexes. These have been complemented by computational approaches, exploiting the ability of Molecular Dynamics simulations to allow exploration of membrane protein conformational changes in membranes with a defined lipid content. These studies have revealed the importance of lipids in stabilising the oligomeric forms of membrane proteins, mediating protein–protein interactions, maintaining a specific conformational state of a membrane protein and activity. Here we review some of the key recent advances in the field of membrane protein–lipid studies, with major emphasis on respiratory complexes, transporters, channels and G-protein coupled receptors.


2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (21) ◽  
pp. 3873-3884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Waibler ◽  
Annette Schäfer ◽  
Anna Starzinski-Powitz

ARVCF, a member of the catenin family, is thought to contribute to the morphoregulatory function of the cadherin-catenin complex. Recently, we reported the isolation and characterisation of murine ARVCF (mARVCF), particularly its interaction with M-cadherin. Here, we describe the identification of novel mARVCF isoforms that arise by alternative splicing. At the N-terminus, alternative splicing results in the inclusion or omission of a coiled-coil region probably important for protein-protein interactions. At the C-terminus, four isoforms also differ by domains potentially important for selective protein-protein interaction. The eight putative mARVCF isoforms were expressed as EGFP-fusion proteins in six different cell lines that exhibit a distinct pattern of cadherins. Apparently, binding of the mARVCF isoforms to M-, N-, or E-cadherin is generally unaffected by their altered N- and C-termini, as revealed by the MOM recruitment assay. However, mARVCF isoforms reproducibly exhibit differential localisation in distinct cellular environments. For example, mARVCF isoforms are unable to colocalise with N-cadherin in EJ28 carcinoma cells but do so in HeLa cells. Our results suggest that the subcellular localisation of mARVCF may be determined not only by the presence or absence of an appropriate interaction partner, in this case cadherins, but also by the cellular context.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Grebowski ◽  
Anita Krokosz

The mechanism of the interaction of highly hydroxylated fullerenol C60(OH)36with erythrocyte membranes was studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) of stearic acid derivatives labeled with a nitroxyl radical at C-12 or C-16 and with a nitroxyl derivative of maleimide covalently attached to sulfhydryl groups of membrane proteins. A significant increase in membrane fluidity in the hydrophobic region of the lipid bilayer was observed for 12-doxylstearic acid at fullerenol concentrations of 100 mg/L or 150 mg/L, while for 16-doxylstearic acid significant increase in fluidity was only observed at 150 mg/L. Fullerenol at 100 mg/L or 150 mg/L caused conformational changes in membrane proteins, expressed as an increase in thehw/hsparameter, when fullerenol was added before the maleimide spin label (MSL) to the membrane suspension. The increase of thehw/hsparameter may be caused by changes in lipid-protein or protein-protein interactions which increase the mobility of the MSL label and as a result increase the membrane fluidity. Incubation of the membranes with the MSL before the addition of fullerenol blocked the available membrane protein –SH groups and minimized the interaction of fullerenol with them. This confirms that fullerenol interacts with erythrocyte membrane proteins via available protein –SH groups.


Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 2641-2648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pu Zhang ◽  
Xiaobo Zhang ◽  
Atsushi Iwama ◽  
Channing Yu ◽  
Kent A. Smith ◽  
...  

Abstract The lineage-specific transcription factors GATA-1 and PU.1 can physically interact to inhibit each other's function, but the mechanism of repression of GATA-1 function by PU.1 has not been elucidated. Both the N terminus and the C terminus of PU.1 can physically interact with the C-terminal zinc finger of GATA-1. It is demonstrated that the PU.1 N terminus, but not the C terminus, is required for inhibiting GATA-1 function. Induced overexpression of PU.1 in K562 erythroleukemia cells blocks hemin-induced erythroid differentiation. In this system, PU.1 does not affect the expression of GATA-1 messenger RNA, protein, or nuclear localization. However, GATA-1 DNA binding decreases dramatically. By means of electrophoretic mobility shift assays with purified proteins, it is demonstrated that the N-terminal 70 amino acids of PU.1 can specifically block GATA-1 DNA binding. In addition, PU.1 had a similar effect in the G1ER cell line, in which the GATA-1 null erythroid cell line G1E has been transduced with a GATA-1–estrogen receptor fusion gene, which is directly dependent on induction of the GATA-1 fusion protein to effect erythroid maturation. Consistent with in vitro binding assays, overexpression of PU.1 blocked DNA binding of the GATA-1 fusion protein as well as GATA-1–mediated erythroid differentiation of these G1ER cells. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which function of a lineage-specific transcription factor is inhibited by another lineage-restricted factor through direct protein–protein interactions. These findings contribute to understanding how protein–protein interactions participate in hematopoietic differentiation and leukemogenesis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 295 (7) ◽  
pp. 1992-2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Laursen ◽  
Elin Karlsson ◽  
Stefano Gianni ◽  
Per Jemth

Cell scaffolding and signaling are governed by protein–protein interactions. Although a particular interaction is often defined by two specific domains binding to each other, this interaction often occurs in the context of other domains in multidomain proteins. How such adjacent domains form supertertiary structures and modulate protein–protein interactions has only recently been addressed and is incompletely understood. The postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 contains a three-domain supramodule, denoted PSG, which consists of PDZ, Src homology 3 (SH3), and guanylate kinase-like domains. The PDZ domain binds to the C terminus of its proposed natural ligand, CXXC repeat–containing interactor of PDZ3 domain (CRIPT), and results from previous experiments using only the isolated PDZ domain are consistent with the simplest scenario for a protein–protein interaction; namely, a two-state mechanism. Here we analyzed the binding kinetics of the PSG supramodule with CRIPT. We show that PSG binds CRIPT via a more complex mechanism involving two conformational states interconverting on the second timescale. Both conformational states bound a CRIPT peptide with similar affinities but with different rates, and the distribution of the two conformational states was slightly shifted upon CRIPT binding. Our results are consistent with recent structural findings of conformational changes in PSD-95 and demonstrate how conformational transitions in supertertiary structures can shape the ligand-binding energy landscape and modulate protein–protein interactions.


Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 2641-2648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pu Zhang ◽  
Xiaobo Zhang ◽  
Atsushi Iwama ◽  
Channing Yu ◽  
Kent A. Smith ◽  
...  

The lineage-specific transcription factors GATA-1 and PU.1 can physically interact to inhibit each other's function, but the mechanism of repression of GATA-1 function by PU.1 has not been elucidated. Both the N terminus and the C terminus of PU.1 can physically interact with the C-terminal zinc finger of GATA-1. It is demonstrated that the PU.1 N terminus, but not the C terminus, is required for inhibiting GATA-1 function. Induced overexpression of PU.1 in K562 erythroleukemia cells blocks hemin-induced erythroid differentiation. In this system, PU.1 does not affect the expression of GATA-1 messenger RNA, protein, or nuclear localization. However, GATA-1 DNA binding decreases dramatically. By means of electrophoretic mobility shift assays with purified proteins, it is demonstrated that the N-terminal 70 amino acids of PU.1 can specifically block GATA-1 DNA binding. In addition, PU.1 had a similar effect in the G1ER cell line, in which the GATA-1 null erythroid cell line G1E has been transduced with a GATA-1–estrogen receptor fusion gene, which is directly dependent on induction of the GATA-1 fusion protein to effect erythroid maturation. Consistent with in vitro binding assays, overexpression of PU.1 blocked DNA binding of the GATA-1 fusion protein as well as GATA-1–mediated erythroid differentiation of these G1ER cells. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which function of a lineage-specific transcription factor is inhibited by another lineage-restricted factor through direct protein–protein interactions. These findings contribute to understanding how protein–protein interactions participate in hematopoietic differentiation and leukemogenesis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bogutzki ◽  
Natalie Naue ◽  
Lidia Litz ◽  
Andreas Pich ◽  
Ute Curth

Abstract During DNA replication in E. coli, a switch between DnaG primase and DNA polymerase III holoenzyme (pol III) activities has to occur every time when the synthesis of a new Okazaki fragment starts. As both primase and the χ subunit of pol III interact with the highly conserved C-terminus of single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB), it had been proposed that the binding of both proteins to SSB is mutually exclusive. Using a replication system containing the origin of replication of the single-stranded DNA phage G4 (G4ori) saturated with SSB, we tested whether DnaG and pol III can bind concurrently to the primed template. We found that the addition of pol III does not lead to a displacement of primase, but to the formation of higher complexes. Even pol III-mediated primer elongation by one or several DNA nucleotides does not result in the dissociation of DnaG. About 10 nucleotides have to be added in order to displace one of the two primase molecules bound to SSB-saturated G4ori. The concurrent binding of primase and pol III is highly plausible, since even the SSB tetramer situated directly next to the 3′-terminus of the primer provides four C-termini for protein-protein interactions.


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