A specific domain in alpha-catenin mediates binding to beta-catenin or plakoglobin

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (15) ◽  
pp. 1759-1765 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Huber ◽  
M. Krohn ◽  
R. Kemler
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Interaction Mechanism ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Specific Domain ◽  
E Cadherin

The E-cadherin-catenin adhesion complex has been the subject of many structural and functional studies because of its importance in development, normal tissue function and carcinogenesis. It is well established that the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin binds either beta-catenin or plakoglobin, which both can assemble alpha-catenin into the complex. Recently we have identified an alpha-catenin binding site in beta-catenin and plakoglobin and postulated, based on sequence analysis, that these protein-protein interactions are mediated by a hydrophobic interaction mechanism. Here we have now identified the reciprocal complementary binding site in alpha-catenin which mediates its interaction with beta-catenin and plakoglobin. Using in vitro association assays with C-terminal truncations of alpha-catenin expressed as recombinant fusion proteins, we found that the N-terminal 146 amino acids are required for this interaction. We then identified a peptide of 27 amino acids within this sequence (amino acid positions 117–143) which is necessary and sufficient to bind beta-catenin or plakoglobin. As shown by mutational analysis, hydrophobic amino acids within this binding site are important for the interaction. The results described here, together with our previous work, give strong support for the idea that these proteins associate by hydrophobic interactions of two alpha-helices.

scholarly journals Human U4/U6 snRNP Recycling Factor p110: Mutational Analysis Reveals the Function of the Tetratricopeptide Repeat Domain in Recycling

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (17) ◽  
pp. 7392-7401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Medenbach ◽  
Silke Schreiner ◽  
Sunbin Liu ◽  
Reinhard Lührmann ◽  
Albrecht Bindereif
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Tetratricopeptide Repeat ◽  
Terminal Sequence ◽  
Recognition Motifs ◽  
Tpr Domain

ABSTRACT After each spliceosome cycle, the U4 and U6 snRNAs are released separately and are recycled to the functional U4/U6 snRNP, requiring in the mammalian system the U6-specific RNA binding protein p110 (SART3). Its domain structure is made up of an extensive N-terminal domain with at least seven tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs, followed by two RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a highly conserved C-terminal sequence of 10 amino acids. Here we demonstrate under in vitro recycling conditions that U6-p110 is an essential splicing factor. Recycling activity requires both the RRMs and the TPR domain but not the highly conserved C-terminal sequence. For U6-specific RNA binding, the two RRMs with some flanking regions are sufficient. Yeast two-hybrid assays reveal that p110 interacts through its TPR domain with the U4/U6-specific 90K protein, indicating a specific role of the TPR domain in spliceosome recycling. On the 90K protein, a short internal region (amino acids 416 to 550) suffices for the interaction with p110. Together, these data suggest a model whereby p110 brings together U4 and U6 snRNAs through both RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions.

Characterisation of the paxillin-binding site and the C-terminal focal adhesion targeting sequence in vinculin

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 709-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.K. Wood ◽  
C.E. Turner ◽  
P. Jackson ◽  
D.R. Critchley
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Focal Adhesion ◽  
Focal Adhesions ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Nih3t3 Cells ◽  
Cell Biol

Paxillin and vinculin are cytoskeletal proteins that colocalise to focal adhesions, specialised regions of the cell involved in attachment to the extracellular matrix. These two molecules form part of a complex of proteins that link the actin network to the plasma membrane. Paxillin has been shown to bind directly in vitro to the C-terminal region of vinculin (Turner et al. (1990). J. Cell Biol. 111, 1059–1068), which also contains a focal adhesion targeting sequence (Bendori et al. (1989). J. Cell Biol. 108, 2383–2393). In the present study, we have used a series of vinculin deletion mutants to map more precisely the sites in vinculin responsible for paxillin binding and focal adhesion localisation. A glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein spanning vinculin residues 881–1000 was sufficient to support 125I-paxillin binding in a gel-blot assay while no detectable binding was observed to a fusion protein spanning residues 881–978. Transfection experiments using cDNAs encoding chick vinculin residues 398–1066 and 398–1028 demonstrated that amino acids C-terminal to residue 1028 were not necessary for targeting to focal adhesions. In contrast, a vinculin polypeptide expressed from a cDNA encoding residues 398–1000 failed to localise to focal adhesions in stably transfected NIH3T3 cells. We have therefore identified a region of 50 amino acids (residues 979–1028) within the C-terminal region of vinculin that contains both the paxillin-binding site and the focal adhesion targeting sequence. This region is highly conserved in human and chicken vinculin and is likely to be important in regulation of the assembly of focal adhesions.

Cadherin binding sites of plakoglobin: localization, specificity and role in targeting to adhering junctions

1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (13) ◽  
pp. 3069-3078 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.B. Troyanovsky ◽  
N.A. Chitaev ◽  
S.M. Troyanovsky
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Adherens Junctions ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Intact Protein ◽  
Chimeric Proteins ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Repeat Region ◽  
E Cadherin

Plakoglobin directly interacts with cadherins and plays an essential role in the assembly of adherens junctions and desmosomes. Recently we have reported that multiple cadherin binding sites are localized along the arm repeat region of plakoglobin. To demonstrate functionally and specificity of these sites in vivo we constructed a set of chimeric proteins containing a plakoglobin sequence fused with the transmembrane vesicular protein synaptophysin. Plakoglobin fused upstream or downstream from synaptophysin (PgSy and SyPg, chimeras, respectively) is exposed on the cytoplasmic surface of synaptic-like vesicles and is able to associate with E-cadherin, and with two desmosomal cadherins, desmoglein and desmocollin. Moreover, plakoglobin targets these vesicles to cell-cell junctions. Insertion of synaptophysin within plakoglobin (PSyG chimeras) can interfere with cadherin binding of the resulting chimeric proteins, dependent on the position of the insertion. Insertion of synaptophysin in the first three arm repeats selectively inactivates plakoglobin binding to desmoglein and desmocollin. An insertion of synaptophysin within the next two repeats inactivates E-cadherin and desmocollin binding but not desmoglein binding. This localization of the desmoglein and E-cadherin binding sites was further confirmed by replacement of plakoglobin arm repeats with the corresponding sequence derived from the plakoglobin homologue, beta-catenin, and by deletion mutagenesis. Insertion of synaptophysin in most sites within arm repeats 6–13 does not change plakoglobin binding to cadherins. It does, however, strongly inhibit association of the resulting vesicles either with desmosomes and adherens junctions or with desmosomes only. Using in vitro binding assays we demonstrate that arm repeats 6–13 contain two cryptic cadherin binding sites that are masked in the intact protein. These observations suggest that the arm repeat region of plakoglobin is comprises two functionally distinct regions: the 1/5 region containing desmoglein and E-cadherin specific binding sites and the 6/13 region implicated in targeting of plakoglobin/cadherin complexes into junctional structures.

The armadillo repeat region targets ARVCF to cadherin-based cellular junctions

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (22) ◽  
pp. 4121-4135 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Kaufmann ◽  
C. Zuppinger ◽  
Z. Waibler ◽  
M. Rudiger ◽  
C. Urbich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Cytoplasmic Domain ◽  
Cell Contact ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Repeat Region ◽  
Mcf7 Cells ◽  
Armadillo Repeat

The cytoplasmic domain of the transmembrane protein M-cadherin is involved in anchoring cytoskeletal elements to the plasma membrane at cell-cell contact sites. Several members of the armadillo repeat protein family mediate this linkage. We show here that ARVCF, a member of the p120 (ctn) subfamily, is a ligand for the cytoplasmic domain of M-cadherin, and characterize the regions involved in this interaction in detail. Complex formation in an in vivo environment was demonstrated in (1) yeast two-hybrid screens, using a cDNA library from differentiating skeletal muscle and part of the cytoplasmic M-cadherin tail as a bait, and (2) mammalian cells, using a novel experimental system, the MOM recruitment assay. Immunoprecipitation and in vitro binding assays confirmed this interaction. Ectopically expressed EGFP-ARVCF-C11, an N-terminal truncated fragment, targets to junctional structures in epithelial MCF7 cells and cardiomyocytes, where it colocalizes with the respective cadherins, beta-catenin and p120 (ctn). Hence, the N terminus of ARVCF is not required for junctional localization. In contrast, deletion of the four N-terminal armadillo repeats abolishes this ability in cardiomyocytes. Detailed mutational analysis revealed the armadillo repeat region of ARVCF as sufficient and necessary for interaction with the 55 membrane-proximal amino acids of the M-cadherin tail.

Assembly of the cadherin-catenin complex in vitro with recombinant proteins

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 3655-3663 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Aberle ◽  
S. Butz ◽  
J. Stappert ◽  
H. Weissig ◽  
R. Kemler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytoplasmic Domain ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Adhesive Properties ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Signalling Molecules ◽  
Classical Cadherins ◽  
E Cadherin

The cytoplasmic domain of classical cadherins is tightly associated with three proteins termed alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin. These accessory proteins are of central importance for the adhesive properties of this class of cell adhesion molecules. In order to examine the molecular architecture of the cadherin-catenin complex in more detail we have expressed the catenins and the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, and analyzed the interaction of purified recombinant cadherin and catenins in combinatorial protein-protein interaction experiments. The cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin cannot directly associate with alpha-catenin but interacts with high affinity with beta-catenin, whereas the binding of gamma-catenin (plakoglobin) to E-cadherin is less efficient. alpha- and beta-catenin assemble into a 1:1 heterodimeric complex. The analysis of various truncated beta-catenins revealed that an alpha-catenin binding site in beta-catenin is localized between amino acid positions 120 and 151. The central role of beta-catenin for the assembly of the heterotrimeric E-cadherin/alpha-catenin/beta-catenin complex in mixing experiments with all components was demonstrated. The reconstitution in vitro of the cadherin-catenin complex should allow the study of the interaction with signalling molecules and with the actin-based cytoskeleton.

Expression of E- or P-cadherin is not sufficient to modify the morphology and the tumorigenic behavior of murine spindle carcinoma cells. Possible involvement of plakoglobin

1993 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 923-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Navarro ◽  
E. Lozano ◽  
A. Cano
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
In Vitro Assay ◽  
Carcinoma Cells ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Spindle Cells ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
E Cadherin

Transfection of E- and P-cadherin cDNA has been carried out in murine spindle carcinoma cells previously shown to be deficient in both cadherins (Navarro et al., J. Cell Biol. 115, 517–533, 1991). High levels of expression of E- or P-cadherin do not significantly affect the fibroblastic morphology of the parental spindle cells. In addition, the tumorigenic behavior of these highly malignant cells is not influenced by the ectopic expression of either cadherin. Nevertheless, a fraction of the exogenous cadherins is able to associate to detergent-insoluble components of the transfectant cells, and the expression of the exogenous E-cadherin confers Ca(2+)-dependent aggregation on the spindle transfectants in an in vitro assay. Immunoprecipitation analysis of the cadherin-catenin complex of the transfectants revealed that the ectopic E-cadherin associates with the alpha- and beta-catenin proteins. However, the gamma-catenin/plakoglobin component could not be detected in the E-cadherin immunocomplexes of the spindle transfectant cells, in contrast to the epithelial cells where the three catenins appeared to be associated with E-cadherin. The lack of association of gamma-catenin is correlated with very low levels of plakoglobin in whole cell extracts of the parental spindle cells. These results indicate that the association of E-cadherin with the alpha- and beta-catenin components is not sufficient to promote a fibroblastoid-epithelial conversion of highly malignant spindle cells. The presence of plakoglobin could be required for the proper organization of E-cadherin in the transfectant cells in order to acquire an epithelioid phenotype.

scholarly journals Mutational analysis and an alternatively spliced product of B7 defines its CD28/CTLA4-binding site on immunoglobulin C-like domain.

1995 ◽  
Vol 181 (4) ◽  
pp. 1345-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Guo ◽  
Y Wu ◽  
M Zhao ◽  
X P Kong ◽  
Y Liu
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Surface Receptors ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Alternatively Spliced ◽  
Single Binding Site

Costimulatory molecules B7 and B7-2 interact with T cell surface receptors CD28/CTLA4 and deliver a costimulatory signal essential for T cell growth. However, the structure basis of this interaction is not known. B7 and B7-2 are members of immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and their extracellular portion consists of an IgV- and IgC-like domain. Here we report that a naturally occurring, alternatively spliced form of B7 reveals that exon 3-encoded IgC domain is essential for CD28/CTLA4 binding. Mutational analysis of B7 demonstrates a critical role of several amino acids around loops between strands B and C and D and E, for binding CTLA4/CD28. These amino acids are clustered to form a single binding site centered at 201Y. A comparison of the effects of mutations on the binding of CD28 and CTLA4 reveals that CD28 and CTLA4 binds to the same site on B7. These results have important implications on the role of CTLA4 and CD28 in T cell costimulation. The structure of the CD28/CTLA4-binding site also provides valuable information for immune intervention targeted at the B7/B7-2-CD28/CTLA4 interactions.

Recognition of multiple drugs by a single protein: a trivial solution of an old paradox

2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Vazquez-Laslop ◽  
E. E. Zheleznova ◽  
P. N. Markham ◽  
R. G. Brennan ◽  
A. A. Neyfakh
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Crystallographic Analysis ◽  
Hydrophobic Core ◽  
Ligand Specificity ◽  
Hydrophobic Amino Acids ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Multiple Drugs

Multi drug-efflux transporters recognize scores of structurally dissimilar toxic compounds and expel them from cells. The broad chemical specificity of these transporters challenges some of the basic dogmas of biochemistry and remains unexplained. To understand, at least in principle, how a protein can recognize multiple compounds, we analysed the transcriptional regulator of the Bacillus subtilis multidrug transporter Bmr. This regulator, BmrR, binds multiple dissimilar hydrophobic cations and, by activating the expression of the Bmr transporter, causes their expulsion from the cell. Crystallographic analysis of the complexes of the inducer-binding domain of BmrR with some of its inducers revealed that ligands cause disordering of the surface α-helix and penetrate the hydrophobic core of the protein, where they form multiple van der Waals and stacking interactions with hydrophobic amino acids and an electrostatic bond with the buried glutamic residue. Mutational analysis of the binding site suggests that each ligand forms a unique set of atomic contacts with the protein: each tested mutation exerted disparate effects on the binding of different ligands. The example of BmrR demonstrates that a protein can bind multiple compounds with micromolar affinities by using only electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Its ligand specificity can be broadened by the flexibility of the binding site. It therefore seems that the commonly expressed fascination with the broad specificity of multidrug transporters is misdirected and originates from an almost exclusive familiarity with the more sophisticated processes of specific molecular recognition that predominate among existing proteins.

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