1
|
Sahoo AR, Souza PCT, Meng Z, Buck M. Transmembrane dimers of type 1 receptors sample alternate configurations: MD simulations using coarse grain Martini 3 versus AlphaFold2 Multimer. Structure 2023; 31:735-745.e2. [PMID: 37075749 PMCID: PMC10833135 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Structures and dynamics of transmembrane (TM) receptor regions are key to understanding their signaling mechanism across membranes. Here we examine configurations of TM region dimers, assembled using the recent Martini 3 force field for coarse-grain (CG) molecular dynamics simulations. At first glance, our results show only a reasonable agreement with ab initio predictions using PREDDIMER and AlphaFold2 Multimer and with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-derived structures. 5 of 11 CG TM structures are similar to the NMR structures (within <3.5 Å root-mean-square deviation [RMSD]) compared with 10 and 9 using PREDDIMER and AlphaFold2, respectively (with 8 structures of the later within 1.5 Å). Surprisingly, AlphaFold2 predictions are closer to NMR structures when the 2001 instead of 2020 database is used for training. The CG simulations reveal that alternative configurations of TM dimers readily interconvert with a predominant population. The implications for transmembrane signaling are discussed, including for the development of peptide-based pharmaceuticals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amita R Sahoo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB, UMR 5086), CNRS & University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Zhiyuan Meng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sahoo AR, Buck M. Structural and Functional Insights into the Transmembrane Domain Association of Eph Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168593. [PMID: 34445298 PMCID: PMC8395321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Eph receptors are the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases and by interactions with ephrin ligands mediate a myriad of processes from embryonic development to adult tissue homeostasis. The interaction of Eph receptors, especially at their transmembrane (TM) domains is key to understanding their mechanism of signal transduction across cellular membranes. We review the structural and functional aspects of EphA1/A2 association and the techniques used to investigate their TM domains: NMR, molecular modelling/dynamics simulations and fluorescence. We also introduce transmembrane peptides, which can be used to alter Eph receptor signaling and we provide a perspective for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amita R. Sahoo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Westerfield JM, Sahoo AR, Alves DS, Grau B, Cameron A, Maxwell M, Schuster JA, Souza PCT, Mingarro I, Buck M, Barrera FN. Conformational Clamping by a Membrane Ligand Activates the EphA2 Receptor. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167144. [PMID: 34229012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor is a promising drug target for cancer treatment, since EphA2 activation can inhibit metastasis and tumor progression. It has been recently described that the TYPE7 peptide activates EphA2 using a novel mechanism that involves binding to the single transmembrane domain of the receptor. TYPE7 is a conditional transmembrane (TM) ligand, which only inserts into membranes at neutral pH in the presence of the TM region of EphA2. However, how membrane interactions can activate EphA2 is not known. We systematically altered the sequence of TYPE7 to identify the binding motif used to activate EphA2. With the resulting six peptides, we performed biophysical and cell migration assays that identified a new potent peptide variant. We also performed a mutational screen that determined the helical interface that mediates dimerization of the TM domain of EphA2 in cells. These results, together with molecular dynamic simulations, allowed to elucidate the molecular mechanism that TYPE7 uses to activate EphA2, where the membrane peptide acts as a molecular clamp that wraps around the TM dimer of the receptor. We propose that this binding mode stabilizes the active conformation of EphA2. Our data, additionally, provide clues into the properties that TM ligands need to have in order to achieve activation of membrane receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Westerfield
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Amita R Sahoo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Daiane S Alves
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Brayan Grau
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Alayna Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Mikayla Maxwell
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Jennifer A Schuster
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, F-69367 Lyon, France
| | - Ismael Mingarro
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gopal SM, Pawar AB, Wassenaar TA, Sengupta D. Lipid-dependent conformational landscape of the ErbB2 growth factor receptor dimers. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 230:104911. [PMID: 32353357 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Altered lipid metabolism has been linked to cancer development and progression. Several roles have been attributed to the increased saturation and length of lipid acyl tails observed in tumors, but its effect on signaling receptors is still emerging. In this work, we have analyzed the lipid dependence of the ErbB2 growth factor receptor dimerization that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. We have performed coarse-grain ensemble molecular dynamics simulations to comprehensively sample the ErbB2 monomer-dimer association. Our results indicate a dynamic dimer state with a complex conformational landscape that is modulated with increasing lipid tail length. We resolve the native N-terminal "active" and C-terminal "inactive" conformations in all membrane compositions. However, the relative population of the N-terminal and C-terminal conformers is dependent on length of the saturated lipid tails. In short-tail membranes, additional non-specific dimers are observed which are reduced or absent in long-tailed bilayers. Our results indicate that the relative population as well as the structure of the dimer state is modulated by membrane composition. We have correlated these differences to local perturbations of the membrane around the receptor. Our work is an important step in characterizing ErbB dimers in healthy and diseased states and emphasize the importance of sampling lipid dynamics in understanding receptor association.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa M Gopal
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Lehrstuhl fur Theoretische Chemie, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Aiswarya B Pawar
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; AcSIR, Mathura Road, New Delhi, 110 025, India
| | - Tsjerk A Wassenaar
- Molecular Dynamics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Durba Sengupta
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; AcSIR, Mathura Road, New Delhi, 110 025, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Polyansky AA, Bocharov EV, Velghe AI, Kuznetsov AS, Bocharova OV, Urban AS, Arseniev AS, Zagrovic B, Demoulin JB, Efremov RG. Atomistic mechanism of the constitutive activation of PDGFRA via its transmembrane domain. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1863:82-95. [PMID: 30253204 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Single-point mutations in the transmembrane (TM) region of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) can lead to abnormal ligand-independent activation. We use a combination of computational modeling, NMR spectroscopy and cell experiments to analyze in detail the mechanism of how TM domains contribute to the activation of wild-type (WT) PDGFRA and its oncogenic V536E mutant. Using a computational framework, we scan all positions in PDGFRA TM helix for identification of potential functional mutations for the WT and the mutant and reveal the relationship between the receptor activity and TM dimerization via different interfaces. This strategy also allows us design a novel activating mutation in the WT (I537D) and a compensatory mutation in the V536E background eliminating its constitutive activity (S541G). We show both computationally and experimentally that single-point mutations in the TM region reshape the TM dimer ensemble and delineate the structural and dynamic determinants of spontaneous activation of PDGFRA via its TM domain. Our atomistic picture of the coupling between TM dimerization and PDGFRA activation corroborates the data obtained for other RTKs and provides a foundation for developing novel modulators of the pathological activity of PDGFRA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Polyansky
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter 5, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Eduard V Bocharov
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy Pereulok 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia; National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Akad. Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow 123182, Russia
| | - Amélie I Velghe
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Andrey S Kuznetsov
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy Pereulok 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia; Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V Bocharova
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy Pereulok 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia
| | - Anatoly S Urban
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy Pereulok 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia
| | - Alexander S Arseniev
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy Pereulok 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia
| | - Bojan Zagrovic
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter 5, A-1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jean-Baptiste Demoulin
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Roman G Efremov
- MM Shemyakin and Yu A Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy Pereulok 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia; Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang L. Investigation on two human defensin dimers: structure prediction and refinement using a combined simulation strategy. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2018.1448978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bocharov EV, Lesovoy DM, Bocharova OV, Urban AS, Pavlov KV, Volynsky PE, Efremov RG, Arseniev AS. Structural basis of the signal transduction via transmembrane domain of the human growth hormone receptor. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:1410-1420. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
8
|
Domański J, Sansom MSP, Stansfeld PJ, Best RB. Balancing Force Field Protein-Lipid Interactions To Capture Transmembrane Helix-Helix Association. J Chem Theory Comput 2018; 14:1706-1715. [PMID: 29424543 PMCID: PMC5852462 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.7b00983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Atomistic simulations have recently been shown to be sufficiently accurate to reversibly fold globular proteins and have provided insights into folding mechanisms. Gaining similar understanding from simulations of membrane protein folding and association would be of great medical interest. All-atom simulations of the folding and assembly of transmembrane protein domains are much more challenging, not least due to very slow diffusion within the lipid bilayer membrane. Here, we focus on a simple and well-characterized prototype of membrane protein folding and assembly, namely the dimerization of glycophorin A, a homodimer of single transmembrane helices. We have determined the free energy landscape for association of the dimer using the CHARMM36 force field. We find that the native structure is a metastable state, but not stable as expected from experimental estimates of the dissociation constant and numerous experimental structures obtained under a variety of conditions. We explore two straightforward approaches to address this problem and demonstrate that they result in stable dimers with dissociation constants consistent with experimental data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Domański
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
- Laboratory
of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
| | - Mark S. P. Sansom
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
| | - Phillip J. Stansfeld
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
| | - Robert B. Best
- Laboratory
of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cao H, Ng MCK, Jusoh SA, Tai HK, Siu SWI. TMDIM: an improved algorithm for the structure prediction of transmembrane domains of bitopic dimers. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2017; 31:855-865. [DOI: 10.1007/s10822-017-0047-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
10
|
Dutagaci B, Sayadi M, Feig M. Heterogeneous dielectric generalized Born model with a van der Waals term provides improved association energetics of membrane-embedded transmembrane helices. J Comput Chem 2017; 38:1308-1320. [PMID: 28160300 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.24691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneous dielectric generalized Born (HDGB) implicit membrane formalism is extended by the addition of a van der Waals dispersion term to better describe the nonpolar components of the free energy of solvation. The new model, termed HDGBvdW, improves the energy estimates in the hydrophobic interior of the membrane, where polar and charged species are rarely found and nonpolar interactions become significant. The implicit van der Waals term for the membrane environment extends the model from Gallicchio et al. (J. Comput. Chem. 2004, 25, 479) by combining separate contributions from each of the membrane components. The HDGBvdW model is validated with a series of test cases ranging from membrane insertion and pair association profiles of amino acid side chain analogs and transmembrane helices. Overall, the HDGBvdW model leads to increased agreement with explicit membrane simulation results and experimental data. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bercem Dutagaci
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
| | - Maryam Sayadi
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
| | - Michael Feig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
TMDOCK: An Energy-Based Method for Modeling α-Helical Dimers in Membranes. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:390-398. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
12
|
Barton R, Khakbaz P, Bera I, Klauda JB, Iovine MK, Berger BW. Interplay of Specific Trans- and Juxtamembrane Interfaces in Plexin A3 Dimerization and Signal Transduction. Biochemistry 2016; 55:4928-38. [PMID: 27508400 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plexins are transmembrane proteins that serve as guidance receptors during angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, neuronal development, and zebrafish fin regeneration, with a putative role in cancer metastasis. Receptor dimerization or clustering, induced by extracellular ligand binding but modulated in part by the plexin transmembrane (TM) and juxtamembrane (JM) domains, is thought to drive plexin activity. Previous studies indicate that isolated plexin TM domains interact through a conserved, small-x3-small packing motif, and the cytosolic JM region interacts through a hydrophobic heptad repeat; however, the roles and interplay of these regions in plexin signal transduction remain unclear. Using an integrated experimental and simulation approach, we find disruption of the small-x3-small motifs in the Danio rerio Plexin A3 TM domain enhances dimerization of the TM-JM domain by enhancing JM-mediated dimerization. Furthermore, mutations of the cytosolic JM heptad repeat that disrupt dimerization do so even in the presence of TM domain mutations. However, mutations to the small-x3-small TM interfaces also disrupt Plexin A3 signaling in a zebrafish axonal guidance assay, indicating the importance of this TM interface in signal transduction. Collectively, our experimental and simulation results demonstrate that multiple TM and JM interfaces exist in the Plexin A3 homodimer, and these interfaces independently regulate dimerization that is important in Plexin A3 signal transduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Barton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University , Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Pouyan Khakbaz
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Indrani Bera
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Jeffery B Klauda
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States.,Biophysics Program, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742-2431, United States
| | - M Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University , Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Bryan W Berger
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University , Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States.,Program in Bioengineering, Lehigh University , Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lei D, Rames M, Zhang X, Zhang L, Zhang S, Ren G. Insights into the Tunnel Mechanism of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein through All-atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:14034-14044. [PMID: 27143480 PMCID: PMC4933163 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.715565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer from the atheroprotective high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol to the atherogenic low density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the past decade, this property has driven the development of CETP inhibitors, which have been evaluated in large scale clinical trials for treating cardiovascular diseases. Despite the pharmacological interest, little is known about the fundamental mechanism of CETP in CE transfer. Recent electron microscopy (EM) experiments have suggested a tunnel mechanism, and molecular dynamics simulations have shown that the flexible N-terminal distal end of CETP penetrates into the HDL surface and takes up a CE molecule through an open pore. However, it is not known whether a CE molecule can completely transfer through an entire CETP molecule. Here, we used all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate this possibility. The results showed that a hydrophobic tunnel inside CETP is sufficient to allow a CE molecule to completely transfer through the entire CETP within a predicted transfer time and at a rate comparable with those obtained through physiological measurements. Analyses of the detailed interactions revealed several residues that might be critical for CETP function, which may provide important clues for the effective development of CETP inhibitors and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Lei
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720; Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Matthew Rames
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
| | - Xing Zhang
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720; Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Shengli Zhang
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China.
| | - Gang Ren
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bragin PE, Mineev KS, Bocharova OV, Volynsky PE, Bocharov EV, Arseniev AS. HER2 Transmembrane Domain Dimerization Coupled with Self-Association of Membrane-Embedded Cytoplasmic Juxtamembrane Regions. J Mol Biol 2015; 428:52-61. [PMID: 26585403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER or ErbB) family transduce biochemical signals across plasma membrane, playing a significant role in vital cellular processes and in various cancers. Inactive HER/ErbB receptors exist in equilibrium between the monomeric and unspecified pre-dimerized states. After ligand binding, the receptors are involved in strong lateral dimerization with proper assembly of their extracellular ligand-binding, single-span transmembrane, and cytoplasmic kinase domains. The dimeric conformation of the HER2 transmembrane domain that is believed to support the cytoplasmic kinase domain configuration corresponding to the receptor active state was previously described in lipid bicelles. Here we used high-resolution NMR spectroscopy in another membrane-mimicking micellar environment and identified an alternative HER2 transmembrane domain dimerization coupled with self-association of membrane-embedded cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region. Such a dimerization mode appears to be capable of effectively inhibiting the receptor kinase activity. This finding refines the molecular mechanism regarding the signal propagation steps from the extracellular to cytoplasmic domains of HER/ErbB receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pavel E Bragin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Konstantin S Mineev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Olga V Bocharova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel E Volynsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Eduard V Bocharov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation.
| | - Alexander S Arseniev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutsky Per., 9, Dolgoprudnyi 141700, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Modeling transmembrane domain dimers/trimers of plexin receptors: implications for mechanisms of signal transmission across the membrane. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121513. [PMID: 25837709 PMCID: PMC4383379 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-pass transmembrane (TM) receptors transmit signals across lipid bilayers by helix association or by configurational changes within preformed dimers. The structure determination for such TM regions is challenging and has mostly been accomplished by NMR spectroscopy. Recently, the computational prediction of TM dimer structures is becoming recognized for providing models, including alternate conformational states, which are important for receptor regulation. Here we pursued a strategy to predict helix oligomers that is based on packing considerations (using the PREDDIMER webserver) and is followed by a refinement of structures, utilizing microsecond all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We applied this method to plexin TM receptors, a family of 9 human proteins, involved in the regulation of cell guidance and motility. The predicted models show that, overall, the preferences identified by PREDDIMER are preserved in the unrestrained simulations and that TM structures are likely to be diverse across the plexin family. Plexin-B1 and -B3 TM helices are regular and tend to associate, whereas plexin-A1, -A2, -A3, -A4, -C1 and -D1 contain sequence elements, such as poly-Glycine or aromatic residues that distort helix conformation and association. Plexin-B2 does not form stable dimers due to the presence of TM prolines. No experimental structural information on the TM region is available for these proteins, except for plexin-C1 dimeric and plexin-B1 - trimeric structures inferred from X-ray crystal structures of the intracellular regions. Plexin-B1 TM trimers utilize Ser and Thr sidechains for interhelical contacts. We also modeled the juxta-membrane (JM) region of plexin-C1 and plexin-B1 and show that it synergizes with the TM structures. The structure and dynamics of the JM region and TM-JM junction provide determinants for the distance and distribution of the intracellular domains, and for their binding partners relative to the membrane. The structures suggest experimental tests and will be useful for the interpretation of future studies.
Collapse
|
16
|
Chavent M, Chetwynd AP, Stansfeld PJ, Sansom MSP. Dimerization of the EphA1 receptor tyrosine kinase transmembrane domain: Insights into the mechanism of receptor activation. Biochemistry 2014; 53:6641-52. [PMID: 25286141 PMCID: PMC4298228 DOI: 10.1021/bi500800x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
![]()
EphA1
is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that plays a key role
in developmental processes, including guidance of the migration of
axons and cells in the nervous system. EphA1, in common with other
RTKs, contains an N-terminal extracellular domain, a single transmembrane
(TM) α-helix, and a C-terminal intracellular kinase domain.
The TM helix forms a dimer, as seen in recent NMR studies. We have
modeled the EphA1 TM dimer using a multiscale approach combining coarse-grain
(CG) and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The one-dimensional
potential of mean force (PMF) for this system, based on interhelix
separation, has been calculated using CG MD simulations. This provides
a view of the free energy landscape for helix–helix interactions
of the TM dimer in a lipid bilayer. The resulting PMF profiles suggest
two states, consistent with a rotation-coupled activation mechanism.
The more stable state corresponds to a right-handed helix dimer interacting
via an N-terminal glycine zipper motif, consistent with a recent NMR
structure (2K1K). A second metastable state corresponds to a structure in which
the glycine zipper motif is not involved. Analysis of unrestrained
CG MD simulations based on representative models from the PMF calculations
or on the NMR structure reveals possible pathways of interconversion
between these two states, involving helix rotations about their long
axes. This suggests that the interaction of TM helices in EphA1 dimers
may be intrinsically dynamic. This provides a potential mechanism
for signaling whereby extracellular events drive a shift in the repopulation
of the underlying TM helix dimer energy landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Chavent
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sawma P, Roth L, Blanchard C, Bagnard D, Crémel G, Bouveret E, Duneau JP, Sturgis JN, Hubert P. Evidence for new homotypic and heterotypic interactions between transmembrane helices of proteins involved in receptor tyrosine kinase and neuropilin signaling. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:4099-4111. [PMID: 25315821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Signaling in eukaryotic cells frequently relies on dynamic interactions of single-pass membrane receptors involving their transmembrane (TM) domains. To search for new such interactions, we have developed a bacterial two-hybrid system to screen for both homotypic and heterotypic interactions between TM helices. We have explored the dimerization of TM domains from 16 proteins involved in both receptor tyrosine kinase and neuropilin signaling. This study has revealed several new interactions. We found that the TM domain of Mucin-4, a putative intramembrane ligand for erbB2, dimerizes not only with erbB2 but also with all four members of the erbB family. In the Neuropilin/Plexin family of receptors, we showed that the TM domains of Neuropilins 1 and 2 dimerize with themselves and also with Plexin-A1, Plexin-B1, and L1CAM, but we were unable to observe interactions with several other TM domains notably those of members of the VEGF receptor family. The potentially important Neuropilin 1/Plexin-A1 interaction was confirmed using a surface plasmon resonance assay. This work shows that TM domain interactions can be highly specific. Exploring further the propensities of TM helix-helix association in cell membrane should have important practical implications related to our understanding of the structure-function of bitopic proteins' assembly and subsequent function, especially in the regulation of signal transduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Sawma
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille University, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - Lise Roth
- INSERM U 1109 and University of Strasbourg, 3 Avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Cécile Blanchard
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille University, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - Dominique Bagnard
- INSERM U 1109 and University of Strasbourg, 3 Avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Gérard Crémel
- INSERM U 1109 and University of Strasbourg, 3 Avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Emmanuelle Bouveret
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille University, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Duneau
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille University, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - James N Sturgis
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille University, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - Pierre Hubert
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille University, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Carballo-Pacheco M, Vancea I, Strodel B. Extension of the FACTS Implicit Solvation Model to Membranes. J Chem Theory Comput 2014; 10:3163-76. [DOI: 10.1021/ct500084y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martín Carballo-Pacheco
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Complex
Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ioan Vancea
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Complex
Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Complex
Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institute
of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sharonov GV, Bocharov EV, Kolosov PM, Astapova MV, Arseniev AS, Feofanov AV. Point mutations in dimerization motifs of the transmembrane domain stabilize active or inactive state of the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:14955-64. [PMID: 24733396 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.558783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase plays a central role in the regulation of cell adhesion and guidance in many human tissues. The activation of EphA2 occurs after proper dimerization/oligomerization in the plasma membrane, which occurs with the participation of extracellular and cytoplasmic domains. Our study revealed that the isolated transmembrane domain (TMD) of EphA2 embedded into the lipid bicelle dimerized via the heptad repeat motif L(535)X3G(539)X2A(542)X3V(546)X2L(549) rather than through the alternative glycine zipper motif A(536)X3G(540)X3G(544) (typical for TMD dimerization in many proteins). To evaluate the significance of TMD interactions for full-length EphA2, we substituted key residues in the heptad repeat motif (HR variant: G539I, A542I, G553I) or in the glycine zipper motif (GZ variant: G540I, G544I) and expressed YFP-tagged EphA2 (WT, HR, and GZ variants) in HEK293T cells. Confocal microscopy revealed a similar distribution of all EphA2-YFP variants in cells. The expression of EphA2-YFP variants and their kinase activity (phosphorylation of Tyr(588) and/or Tyr(594)) and ephrin-A3 binding were analyzed with flow cytometry on a single cell basis. Activation of any EphA2 variant is found to occur even without ephrin stimulation when the EphA2 content in cells is sufficiently high. Ephrin-A3 binding is not affected in mutant variants. Mutations in the TMD have a significant effect on EphA2 activity. Both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activities are enhanced for the HR variant and reduced for the GZ variant compared with the WT. These findings allow us to suggest TMD dimerization switching between the heptad repeat and glycine zipper motifs, corresponding to inactive and active receptor states, respectively, as a mechanism underlying EphA2 signal transduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George V Sharonov
- From the Department of Structural Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia, the Faculty of Medicine, Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eduard V Bocharov
- From the Department of Structural Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter M Kolosov
- the Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, 117485 Moscow, Russia, and
| | - Maria V Astapova
- From the Department of Structural Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Arseniev
- From the Department of Structural Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V Feofanov
- From the Department of Structural Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia, the Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Reddy T, Manrique S, Buyan A, Hall BA, Chetwynd A, Sansom MSP. Primary and secondary dimer interfaces of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 transmembrane domain: characterization via multiscale molecular dynamics simulations. Biochemistry 2014; 53:323-32. [PMID: 24397339 PMCID: PMC4871223 DOI: 10.1021/bi401576k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases are single-pass membrane proteins that form dimers within the membrane. The interactions of their transmembrane domains (TMDs) play a key role in dimerization and signaling. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is of interest as a G380R mutation in its TMD is the underlying cause of ~99% of the cases of achondroplasia, the most common form of human dwarfism. The structural consequences of this mutation remain uncertain: the mutation shifts the position of the TMD relative to the lipid bilayer but does not alter the association free energy. We have combined coarse-grained and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study the dimerization of wild-type, heterodimer, and mutant FGFR3 TMDs. The simulations reveal that the helices pack together in the dimer to form a flexible interface. The primary packing mode is mediated by a Gx3G motif. There is also a secondary dimer interface that is more highly populated in heterodimer and mutant configurations that may feature in the molecular mechanism of pathology. Both coarse-grained and atomistic simulations reveal a significant shift of the G380R mutant dimer TMD relative to the bilayer to allow interactions of the arginine side chain with lipid headgroup phosphates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Reddy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Coarse-grain modelling of protein-protein interactions. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2013; 23:878-86. [PMID: 24172141 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2013.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Here, we review recent advances towards the modelling of protein-protein interactions (PPI) at the coarse-grained (CG) level, a technique that is now widely used to understand protein affinity, aggregation and self-assembly behaviour. PPI models of soluble proteins and membrane proteins are separately described, but we note the parallel development that is present in both research fields with three important themes: firstly, combining CG modelling with knowledge-based approaches to predict and refine protein-protein complexes; secondly, using physics-based CG models for de novo prediction of protein-protein complexes; and thirdly modelling of large scale protein aggregates.
Collapse
|