1
|
Sora V, Papaleo E. Structural Details of BH3 Motifs and BH3-Mediated Interactions: an Updated Perspective. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:864874. [PMID: 35685242 PMCID: PMC9171138 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.864874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is a mechanism of programmed cell death crucial in organism development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and several pathogenic processes. The B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein family lies at the core of the apoptotic process, and the delicate balance between its pro- and anti-apoptotic members ultimately decides the cell fate. BCL2 proteins can bind with each other and several other biological partners through the BCL2 homology domain 3 (BH3), which has been also classified as a possible Short Linear Motif and whose distinctive features remain elusive even after decades of studies. Here, we aim to provide an updated overview of the structural features characterizing BH3s and BH3-mediated interactions (with a focus on human proteins), elaborating on the plasticity of BCL2 proteins and the motif properties. We also discussed the implication of these findings for the discovery of interactors of the BH3-binding groove of BCL2 proteins and the design of mimetics for therapeutic purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Sora
- Cancer Structural Biology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Cancer Systems Biology, Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health and Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elena Papaleo
- Cancer Structural Biology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Cancer Systems Biology, Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health and Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Elena Papaleo, ,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dadsena S, Jenner A, García-Sáez AJ. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization at the single molecule level. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:3777-3790. [PMID: 33576840 PMCID: PMC8106609 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03771-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Apoptotic cell death is essential for development, immune function or tissue homeostasis, and its mis-regulation is linked to various diseases. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) is a central event in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway and essential to control the execution of cell death. Here we review current concepts in regulation of MOMP focusing on the interaction network of the Bcl-2 family proteins as well as further regulatory elements influencing MOMP. As MOMP is a complex spatially and temporally controlled process, we point out the importance of single-molecule techniques to unveil processes which would be masked by ensemble measurements. We report key single-molecule studies applied to decipher the composition, assembly mechanism and structure of protein complexes involved in MOMP regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shashank Dadsena
- Institute for Genetics, CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andreas Jenner
- Institute for Genetics, CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ana J García-Sáez
- Institute for Genetics, CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hantusch A, Rehm M, Brunner T. Counting on Death – Quantitative aspects of Bcl‐2 family regulation. FEBS J 2018; 285:4124-4138. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.14516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annika Hantusch
- Department of Biology Chair of Biochemical Pharmacology University of Konstanz Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology University of Konstanz Germany
| | - Markus Rehm
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin 2 Ireland
- Centre for Systems Medicine Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin 2 Ireland
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology University of Stuttgart Germany
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology University of Stuttgart Germany
| | - Thomas Brunner
- Department of Biology Chair of Biochemical Pharmacology University of Konstanz Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology University of Konstanz Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hantusch A, Das KK, García-Sáez AJ, Brunner T, Rehm M. Bax retrotranslocation potentiates Bcl-x L's antiapoptotic activity and is essential for switch-like transitions between MOMP competency and resistance. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:430. [PMID: 29567940 PMCID: PMC5864878 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0464-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The rapid, typically all-or-none process of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) constitutes a primary cell death decision that is controlled by the Bcl-2 family interactome. However, how strict all-or-none MOMP decisions are governed by and emanate from the dynamic interplay of pro- and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members remains incompletely understood. In particular, it is unclear to which extent the shuttling of Bcl-2 family species between lipid and aqueous phases contributes to regulating MOMP sensitivity. Here, we studied the interplay of tBid, Bax, and Bcl-xL, using a combined approach of deterministic mathematical modeling and retrospective as well as prospective experimental testing of model predictions. Systems modeling of the tBid–Bax interplay and their fluxes between cytosol and mitochondrial membranes reproduced experimental data on tBid-triggered Bax activation and oligomerization highly accurately. Extending these studies to analyze the cell-protective role of Bcl-xL strikingly revealed that the activity of Bcl-xL to retrotranslocate activated Bax from membranes back into the cytosol is essential to reproduce or correctly predict experimental outcomes. These included the potency of Bcl-xL in suppressing Bax oligomerization, its role in limiting Bax membrane recruitment, the resistance threshold to low concentrations of MOMP triggers as well as a response potentiaton arising from combinations of tBid and sensitizer BH3-only peptides. Importantly, retrotranslocation activity of Bcl-xL is necessary to strictly separate conditions of MOMP competency and resistance. Our results therefore identify Bax retrotranslocation by Bcl-xL as an indispensable component of the molecular switch by which Bcl-2 family members govern cellular death decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika Hantusch
- Department of Biology, Chair of Biochemical Pharmacology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kushal K Das
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 4, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ana J García-Sáez
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 4, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Brunner
- Department of Biology, Chair of Biochemical Pharmacology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Markus Rehm
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany. .,Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology, University of Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Peña‐Blanco A, García‐Sáez AJ. Bax, Bak and beyond — mitochondrial performance in apoptosis. FEBS J 2017; 285:416-431. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.14186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 340] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Peña‐Blanco
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry Tübingen University Germany
| | - Ana J. García‐Sáez
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry Tübingen University Germany
- Max‐Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Stuttgart Germany
| |
Collapse
|