Most of the structural proteins known today are composed of domains that carry their own functions while keeping their structural properties. It is supposed that such domains, when taken out of the context of the whole protein, can retain their original structure and function to a certain extent. Information on the specific functional and structural characteristics of individual domains in a new context of artificial fusion proteins may help to reveal the rules of internal and external domain communication. Moreover, this could also help explain the mechanism of such communication and address how the mutual allosteric effect plays a role in a such multi-domain protein system. The simple model system of the two-domain fusion protein investigated in this work consisted of a well-folded PDZ3 domain and an artificially designed small protein domain called Tryptophan Cage (TrpCage). Two fusion proteins with swapped domain order were designed to study their structural and functional features as well as their biophysical properties. The proteins composed of PDZ3 and TrpCage, both identical in amino acid sequence but different in composition (PDZ3-TrpCage, TrpCage-PDZ3), were studied using circualr dichroism (CD) spectrometry, analytical ultracentrifugation, and molecular dynamic simulations. The biophysical analysis uncovered different structural and denaturation properties of both studied proteins, revealing their different unfolding pathways and dynamics.

• Klíčová slova
• chimeras, fusion protein, protein domains, protein dynamic studies,
• MeSH
• PDZ domény * genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny * chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
• tryptofan * chemie   genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny * MeSH
• tryptofan * MeSH

The PDZ domain of Dishevelled 3 protein belongs to a highly abundant protein recognition motif which typically binds short C-terminal peptides. The affinity of the PDZ towards the peptides could be fine-tuned by a variety of post-translation modifications including phosphorylation. However, how phosphorylations affect the PDZ structure and its interactions with ligands remains elusive. Combining molecular dynamics simulations, NMR titration, and biological experiments, we explored the role of previously reported phosphorylation sites and their mimetics in the Dishevelled PDZ domain. Our observations suggest three major roles for phosphorylations: (1) acting as an on/off PDZ binding switch, (2) allosterically affecting the binding groove, and (3) influencing the secondary binding site. Our simulations indicated that mimetics had similar but weaker effects, and the effects of distinct sites were non-additive. This study provides insight into the Dishevelled regulation by PDZ phosphorylation. Furthermore, the observed effects could be used to elucidate the regulation mechanisms in other PDZ domains.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Dishevelled (DVL) is the key component of the Wnt signaling pathway. Currently, DVL conformational dynamics under native conditions is unknown. To overcome this limitation, we develop the Fluorescein Arsenical Hairpin Binder- (FlAsH-) based FRET in vivo approach to study DVL conformation in living cells. Using this single-cell FRET approach, we demonstrate that (i) Wnt ligands induce open DVL conformation, (ii) DVL variants that are predominantly open, show more even subcellular localization and more efficient membrane recruitment by Frizzled (FZD) and (iii) Casein kinase 1 ɛ (CK1ɛ) has a key regulatory function in DVL conformational dynamics. In silico modeling and in vitro biophysical methods explain how CK1ɛ-specific phosphorylation events control DVL conformations via modulation of the PDZ domain and its interaction with DVL C-terminus. In summary, our study describes an experimental tool for DVL conformational sampling in living cells and elucidates the essential regulatory role of CK1ɛ in DVL conformational dynamics.

• MeSH
• analýza jednotlivých buněk metody   MeSH
• biosenzitivní techniky MeSH
• enzymatické testy metody   MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• fosforylace fyziologie   MeSH
• frizzled receptory metabolismus   MeSH
• genový knockout MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• kaseinkinasa Iepsilon genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutageneze cílená MeSH
• oocyty MeSH
• PDZ domény fyziologie   MeSH
• protein dishevelled genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rezonanční přenos fluorescenční energie MeSH
• signální dráha Wnt fyziologie   MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
• Xenopus laevis MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DVL3 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• frizzled receptory MeSH
• FZD6 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• kaseinkinasa Iepsilon MeSH
• protein dishevelled MeSH