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Gebregiworgis T, Chan JYL, Kuntz DA, Privé GG, Marshall CB, Ikura M. Crystal structure of NRAS Q61K with a ligand-induced pocket near switch II. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151414. [PMID: 38640594 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The RAS isoforms (KRAS, HRAS and NRAS) have distinct cancer type-specific profiles. NRAS mutations are the second most prevalent RAS mutations in skin and hematological malignancies. Although RAS proteins were considered undruggable for decades, isoform and mutation-specific investigations have produced successful RAS inhibitors that are either specific to certain mutants, isoforms (pan-KRAS) or target all RAS proteins (pan-RAS). While extensive structural and biochemical investigations have focused mainly on K- and H-RAS mutations, NRAS mutations have received less attention, and the most prevalent NRAS mutations in human cancers, Q61K and Q61R, are rare in K- and H-RAS. This manuscript presents a crystal structure of the NRAS Q61K mutant in the GTP-bound form. Our structure reveals a previously unseen pocket near switch II induced by the binding of a ligand to the active form of the protein. This observation reveals a binding site that can potentially be exploited for development of inhibitors against mutant NRAS. Furthermore, the well-resolved catalytic site of this GTPase bound to native GTP provides insight into the stalled GTP hydrolysis observed for NRAS-Q61K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teklab Gebregiworgis
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada; Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5W9, Canada.
| | - Jonathan Yui-Lai Chan
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Douglas A Kuntz
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Gilbert G Privé
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 Kings College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Christopher B Marshall
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.
| | - Mitsuhiko Ikura
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada.
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Arora N, Mu H, Liang H, Zhao W, Zhou Y. RAS G-domains allosterically contribute to the recognition of lipid headgroups and acyl chains. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202307121. [PMID: 38334958 PMCID: PMC10857904 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202307121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutant RAS are major contributors to cancer and signal primarily from nanoclusters on the plasma membrane (PM). Their C-terminal membrane anchors are main features of membrane association. However, the same RAS isoform bound to different guanine nucleotides spatially segregate. Different RAS nanoclusters all enrich a phospholipid, phosphatidylserine (PS). These findings suggest more complex membrane interactions. Our electron microscopy-spatial analysis shows that wild-types, G12V mutants, and membrane anchors of isoforms HRAS, KRAS4A, and KRAS4B prefer distinct PS species. Mechanistically, reorientation of KRAS4B G-domain exposes distinct residues, such as Arg 135 in orientation state 1 (OS1) and Arg 73/Arg 102 in OS2, to the PM and differentially facilitates the recognition of PS acyl chains. Allele-specific oncogenic mutations of KRAS4B also shift G-domain reorientation equilibrium. Indeed, KRAS4BG12V, KRAS4BG12D, KRAS4BG12C, KRAS4BG13D, and KRAS4BQ61H associate with PM lipids with headgroup and acyl chain specificities. Distribution of these KRAS4B oncogenic mutants favors different nanoscale membrane topography. Thus, RAS G-domains allosterically facilitate membrane lateral distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Arora
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huanwen Mu
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong Liang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wenting Zhao
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Program of Molecular and Translational Biology, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
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3
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Lee SY, Lee KY. Conditional Cooperativity in RAS Assembly Pathways on Nanodiscs and Altered GTPase Cycling. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202316942. [PMID: 38305637 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Self-assemblies (i.e., nanoclusters) of the RAS GTPase on the membrane act as scaffolds that activate downstream RAF kinases and drive MAPK signaling for cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanistic details of nanoclustering remain largely unknown. Here, size-tunable nanodisc platforms and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) analyses revealed the structural basis of the cooperative assembly processes of fully processed KRAS, mutated in a quarter of human cancers. The cooperativity is modulated by the mutation and nucleotide states of KRAS and the lipid composition of the membrane. Notably, the oncogenic mutants assemble in nonsequential pathways with two mutually cooperative 'α/α' and 'α/β' interfaces, while α/α dimerization of wild-type KRAS promotes the secondary α/β interaction sequentially. Mutation-based interface engineering was used to selectively trap the oligomeric intermediates of KRAS and probe their favorable interface interactions. Transiently exposed interfaces were available for the assembly. Real-time NMR demonstrated that higher-order oligomers retain higher numbers of active GTP-bound protomers in KRAS GTPase cycling. These data provide a deeper understanding of the nanocluster-enhanced signaling in response to the environment. Furthermore, our methodology is applicable to assemblies of many other membrane GTPases and lipid nanoparticle-based formulations of stable protein oligomers with enhanced cooperativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Yeon Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
| | - Ki-Young Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHA University, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
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4
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Krmic M, Perez E, Scollan P, Ivanchenko K, Gamez Hernandez A, Giancaspro J, Rosario J, Ceja-Vega J, Gudyka J, Porteus R, Lee S. Aspirin Interacts with Cholesterol-Containing Membranes in a pH-Dependent Manner. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:16444-16456. [PMID: 37939382 PMCID: PMC10666536 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Aspirin has been used for broad therapeutic treatment, including secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease associated with increased cholesterol levels. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to interact with lipid membranes and change their biophysical properties. In this study, mixed lipid model bilayers made from 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) comprising varying concentrations of cholesterol (10:1, 4:1, and 1:1 mole ratio of lipid:chol), prepared by the droplet interface bilayer method, were used to examine the effects of aspirin at various pH on transbilayer water permeability. The presence of aspirin increases the water permeability of POPC bilayers in a concentration-dependent manner, with a greater magnitude of increase at pH 3 compared to pH 7. In the presence of cholesterol, aspirin is similarly shown to increase water permeability; however, the extent of the increase depends on both the concentration of cholesterol and the pH, with the least pronounced enhancement in water permeability at high cholesterol levels at pH 7. A fusion of data from differential scanning calorimetry, confocal Raman microspectrophotometry, and interfacial tensiometric measurements demonstrates that aspirin can promote significant thermal, structural, and interfacial property perturbations in the mixed-lipid POPC or DOPC membranes containing cholesterol, indicating a disordering effect on the lipid membranes. Our findings suggest that aspirin fluidizes phosphocholine membranes in both cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched states and that the overall effect is greater when aspirin is in a neutral state. These results confer a deeper comprehension of the divergent effects of aspirin on biological membranes having heterogeneous compositions, under varying physiological pH and different cholesterol compositions, with implications for a better understanding of the gastrointestinal toxicity induced by the long term use of this important nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Krmic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Escarlin Perez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Patrick Scollan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Katherine Ivanchenko
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Alondra Gamez Hernandez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Joseph Giancaspro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Juan Rosario
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Jasmin Ceja-Vega
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Jamie Gudyka
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Riley Porteus
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
| | - Sunghee Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States
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5
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Morstein J, Shrestha R, Van QN, López CA, Arora N, Tonelli M, Liang H, Chen D, Zhou Y, Hancock JF, Stephen AG, Turbyville TJ, Shokat KM. Direct Modulators of K-Ras-Membrane Interactions. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:2082-2093. [PMID: 37579045 PMCID: PMC10510109 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein-membrane interactions (PMIs) are ubiquitous in cellular signaling. Initial steps of signal transduction cascades often rely on transient and dynamic interactions with the inner plasma membrane leaflet to populate and regulate signaling hotspots. Methods to target and modulate these interactions could yield attractive tool compounds and drug candidates. Here, we demonstrate that the conjugation of a medium-chain lipid tail to the covalent K-Ras(G12C) binder MRTX849 at a solvent-exposed site enables such direct modulation of PMIs. The conjugated lipid tail interacts with the tethered membrane and changes the relative membrane orientation and conformation of K-Ras(G12C), as shown by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation-supported NMR studies. In cells, this PMI modulation restricts the lateral mobility of K-Ras(G12C) and disrupts nanoclusters. The described strategy could be broadly applicable to selectively modulate transient PMIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Morstein
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Rebika Shrestha
- NCI
RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Que N. Van
- NCI
RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - César A. López
- Theoretical
Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos
National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Neha Arora
- Department
of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Marco Tonelli
- National
Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Hong Liang
- Department
of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - De Chen
- NCI
RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department
of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - John F. Hancock
- Department
of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Andrew G. Stephen
- NCI
RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Thomas J. Turbyville
- NCI
RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Kevan M. Shokat
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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Liu J, Arora N, Zhou Y. RAS GTPases and Interleaflet Coupling in the Plasma Membrane. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041414. [PMID: 37463719 PMCID: PMC10513163 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
RAS genes are frequently mutated in cancer. The primary signaling compartment of wild-type and constitutively active oncogenic mutant RAS proteins is the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM). Thus, a better understanding of the unique environment of the PM inner leaflet is important to shed further light on RAS function. Over the past few decades, an integrated approach of superresolution imaging, molecular dynamic simulations, and biophysical assays has yielded new insights into the capacity of RAS proteins to sort lipids with specific headgroups and acyl chains, to assemble signaling nanoclusters on the inner PM. RAS proteins also sense and respond to changes in components of the outer PM leaflet, including glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, sphingophospholipids, glycosphingolipids, and galectins, as well as cholesterol that translocates between the two leaflets. Such communication between the inner and outer leaflets of the PM, called interleaflet coupling, allows RAS to potentially integrate extracellular mechanical and electrostatic information with intracellular biochemical signaling events, and reciprocally allows mutant RAS-transformed tumor cells to modify tumor microenvironments. Here, we review RAS-lipid interactions and speculate on potential mechanisms that allow communication between the opposing leaflets of the PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchen Liu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Neha Arora
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center and University of Texas, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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