Crystal structure of the E230Q mutant of cAMP-dependent protein kinase reveals an unexpected apoenzyme conformation and an extended N-terminal A helix

Crystal Structures Reveal Hidden Domain Mechanics in Protein Kinase A (PKA)

Cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is a critical enzyme involved in various signaling pathways that plays a crucial role in regulating cellular processes including metabolism, gene transcription, cell proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, the mechanisms of allostery in PKA were investigated by analyzing the vast repertoire of crystal structures available in the RCSB database. From existing structures of murine and human PKA, we elucidated the conformational ensembles and protein dynamics that are altered in a ligand-dependent manner. Distance metrics to analyze conformations of the G-loop were proposed to delineate different states of PKA and were compared to existing structural metrics. Furthermore, ligand-dependent flexibility was investigated through normalized B'-factors to better understand the inherent dynamics in PKA. The presented study provides a contemporary approach to traditional methods in engaging the use of crystal structures for understanding protein dynamics. Importantly, our studies provide a deeper understanding into the conformational ensemble of PKA as the enzyme progresses through its catalytic cycle. These studies provide insights into kinase regulation that can be applied to both PKA individually and protein kinases as a class.

Protein Kinase Structure and Dynamics: Role of the αC-β4 Loop

Although the αC-β4 loop is a stable feature of all protein kinases, the importance of this motif as a conserved element of secondary structure, as well as its links to the hydrophobic architecture of the kinase core, has been underappreciated. We first review the motif and then describe how it is linked to the hydrophobic spine architecture of the kinase core, which we first discovered using a computational tool, Local Spatial Pattern (LSP) alignment. Based on NMR predictions that a mutation in this motif abolishes the synergistic high-affinity binding of ATP and a pseudo substrate inhibitor, we used LSP to interrogate the F100A mutant. This comparison highlights the importance of the αC-β4 loop and key residues at the interface between the N- and C-lobes. In addition, we delved more deeply into the structure of the apo C-subunit, which lacks ATP. While apo C-subunit showed no significant changes in backbone dynamics of the αC-β4 loop, we found significant differences in the side chain dynamics of K105. The LSP analysis suggests disruption of communication between the N- and C-lobes in the F100A mutant, which would be consistent with the structural changes predicted by the NMR spectroscopy.

Edmond Fischer's kinase legacy: History of the protein kinase inhibitor and protein kinase A

Although Fischer's extraordinary career came to focus mostly on the protein phosphatases, after his co-discovery of Phosphorylase Kinase with Ed Krebs he was clearly intrigued not only by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), but also by the heat-stable, high-affinity protein kinase inhibitor (PKI). PKI is an intrinsically disordered protein that contains at its N-terminus a pseudo-substrate motif that binds synergistically and with high-affinity to the PKA catalytic (C) subunit. The sequencing and characterization of this inhibitor peptide (IP20) were validated by the structure of the PKA C-subunit solved first as a binary complex with IP20 and then as a ternary complex with ATP and two magnesium ions. A second motif, nuclear export signal (NES), was later discovered in PKI. Both motifs correspond to amphipathic helices that convey high-affinity binding. The dynamic features of full-length PKI, recently captured by NMR, confirmed that the IP20 motif becomes dynamically and sequentially ordered only in the presence of the C-subunit. The type I PKA regulatory (R) subunits also contain a pseudo-substrate ATPMg2-dependent high-affinity inhibitor sequence. PKI and PKA, especially the Cβ subunit, are highly expressed in the brain, and PKI expression is also cell cycle-dependent. In addition, PKI is now linked to several cancers. The full biological importance of PKI and PKA signaling in the brain, and their importance in cancer thus remains to be elucidated.

The Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor Phosphorylation Hotspot Embraces PKA in a Phosphorylation-Dependent Manner

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are intracellular Ca²⁺ release channels controlling essential cellular functions. RyRs are targeted by cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), a controversial regulation implicated in disorders ranging from heart failure to Alzheimer's. Using crystal structures, we show that the phosphorylation hotspot domain of RyR2 embraces the PKA catalytic subunit, with an extensive interface not seen in PKA complexes with peptides. We trapped an intermediary open-form PKA bound to the RyR2 domain and an ATP analog, showing that PKA can engage substrates in an open form. Phosphomimetics or prior phosphorylation at nearby sites in RyR2 either enhance or reduce the activity of PKA. Finally, we show that a phosphomimetic at S2813, a well-known target site for calmodulin-dependent kinase II, induces the formation of an alpha helix in the phosphorylation domain, resulting in increased interactions and PKA activity. This shows that the different phosphorylation sites in RyR2 are not independent.

Zooming in on protons: Neutron structure of protein kinase A trapped in a product complex

The question vis-à-vis the chemistry of phosphoryl group transfer catalyzed by protein kinases remains a major challenge. The neutron diffraction structure of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA-C) provides a more complete chemical portrait of key proton interactions at the active site. By using a high-affinity protein kinase substrate (PKS) peptide, we captured the reaction products, dephosphorylated nucleotide [adenosine diphosphate (ADP)] and phosphorylated PKS (pPKS), bound at the active site. In the complex, the phosphoryl group of the peptide is protonated, whereas the carboxyl group of the catalytic Asp166 is not. Our structure, including conserved waters, shows how the peptide links the distal parts of the cleft together, creating a network that engages the entire molecule. By comparing slow-exchanging backbone amides to those determined by the NMR analysis of PKA-C with ADP and inhibitor peptide (PKI), we identified exchangeable amides that likely distinguish catalytic and inhibited states.

Long-range molecular dynamics show that inactive forms of Protein Kinase A are more dynamic than active forms

Many protein kinases are characterized by at least two structural forms corresponding to the highest level of activity (active) and low or no activity, (inactive). Further, protein dynamics is an important consideration in understanding the molecular and mechanistic basis of enzyme function. In this work, we use protein kinase A (PKA) as the model system and perform microsecond range molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on six variants which differ from one another in terms of active and inactive form, with or without bound ligands, C-terminal tail and phosphorylation at the activation loop. We find that the root mean square fluctuations in the MD simulations are generally higher for the inactive forms than the active forms. This difference is statistically significant. The higher dynamics of inactive states has significant contributions from ATP binding loop, catalytic loop, and αG helix. Simulations with and without C-terminal tail show this differential dynamics as well, with lower dynamics both in the active and inactive forms if C-terminal tail is present. Similarly, the dynamics associated with the inactive form is higher irrespective of the phosphorylation status of Thr 197. A relatively stable stature of active kinases may be better suited for binding of substrates and detachment of the product. Also, phosphoryl group transfer from ATP to the phosphosite on the substrate requires precise transient coordination of chemical entities from three different molecules, which may be facilitated by the higher stability of the active state.

Binding mechanism and dynamic conformational change of C subunit of PKA with different pathways

The catalytic subunit of PKA (PKAc) exhibits three major conformational states (open, intermediate, and closed) during the biocatalysis process. Both ATP and substrate/inhibitor can effectively induce the conformational changes of PKAc from open to closed states. Aiming to explore the mechanism of this allosteric regulation, we developed a coarse-grained model and analyzed the dynamics of conformational changes of PKAc during binding by performing molecular dynamics simulations for apo PKAc, binary PKAc (PKAc with ATP, PKAc with PKI), and ternary PKAc (PKAc with ATP and PKI). Our results suggest a mixed binding mechanism of induced fit and conformational selection, with the induced fit dominant. The ligands can drive the movements of Gly-rich loop as well as some regions distal to the active site in PKAc and stabilize them at complex state. In addition, there are two parallel pathways (pathway with PKAc-ATP as an intermediate and pathway PKAc-PKI as an intermediate) during the transition from open to closed states. By molecular dynamics simulations and rate constant analyses, we find that the pathway through PKAc-ATP intermediate is the main binding route from open to closed state because of the fact that the bound PKI will hamper ATP from successful binding and significantly increase the barrier for the second binding subprocess. These findings will provide fundamental insights of the mechanisms of PKAc conformational change upon binding.

Dynamic architecture of a protein kinase

Protein kinases are dynamically regulated signaling proteins that act as switches in the cell by phosphorylating target proteins. To establish a framework for analyzing linkages between structure, function, dynamics, and allostery in protein kinases, we carried out multiple microsecond-scale molecular-dynamics simulations of protein kinase A (PKA), an exemplar active kinase. We identified residue-residue correlated motions based on the concept of mutual information and used the Girvan-Newman method to partition PKA into structurally contiguous "communities." Most of these communities included 40-60 residues and were associated with a particular protein kinase function or a regulatory mechanism, and well-known motifs based on sequence and secondary structure were often split into different communities. The observed community maps were sensitive to the presence of different ligands and provide a new framework for interpreting long-distance allosteric coupling. Communication between different communities was also in agreement with the previously defined architecture of the protein kinase core based on the "hydrophobic spine" network. This finding gives us confidence in suggesting that community analyses can be used for other protein kinases and will provide an efficient tool for structural biologists. The communities also allow us to think about allosteric consequences of mutations that are linked to disease.

Influence of N-myristylation and ligand binding on the flexibility of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A

The catalytic (C) subunit of protein kinase A is regulated in part by cotranslational N-myristylation and ligand binding. Using a combination of time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we characterized the effect of N-myristylation and ligand binding on C-subunit dynamics. Five single-site cysteine-substitution mutants of the C-subunit were engineered with and without N-terminal myristylation and labeled with fluorescein maleimide, and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decays were measured to assess the flexibility of the labeled regions in the presence and absence of ligands. A parallel set of in silico experiments were performed to complement the experimental findings. These experiments showed that myristylation produces both local and global effects on C-subunit dynamics. The local effects include stabilization of the N-terminus and myristate pocket, and the global effects include small increases in mobility along the C-tail at residue C343. Additionally, ligand binding was associated with an increase in mobility of the myristate binding pocket for both the myristylated and nonmyristylated enzyme on the basis of both the experimental and MD results. Also, MD simulations suggest that the myristylated protein exhibits increased dynamics when bound to ligands compared to the nonmyristylated protein.

Structural and evolutionary adaptation of rhoptry kinases and pseudokinases, a family of coccidian virulence factors

Background

The widespread protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii interferes with host cell functions by exporting the contents of a unique apical organelle, the rhoptry. Among the mix of secreted proteins are an expanded, lineage-specific family of protein kinases termed rhoptry kinases (ROPKs), several of which have been shown to be key virulence factors, including the pseudokinase ROP5. The extent and details of the diversification of this protein family are poorly understood.

Results

In this study, we comprehensively catalogued the ROPK family in the genomes of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Eimeria tenella, as well as portions of the unfinished genome of Sarcocystis neurona, and classified the identified genes into 42 distinct subfamilies. We systematically compared the rhoptry kinase protein sequences and structures to each other and to the broader superfamily of eukaryotic protein kinases to study the patterns of diversification and neofunctionalization in the ROPK family and its subfamilies. We identified three ROPK sub-clades of particular interest: those bearing a structurally conserved N-terminal extension to the kinase domain (NTE), an E. tenella-specific expansion, and a basal cluster including ROP35 and BPK1 that we term ROPKL. Structural analysis in light of the solved structures ROP2, ROP5, ROP8 and in comparison to typical eukaryotic protein kinases revealed ROPK-specific conservation patterns in two key regions of the kinase domain, surrounding a ROPK-conserved insert in the kinase hinge region and a disulfide bridge in the kinase substrate-binding lobe. We also examined conservation patterns specific to the NTE-bearing clade. We discuss the possible functional consequences of each.

Conclusions

Our work sheds light on several important but previously unrecognized features shared among rhoptry kinases, as well as the essential differences between active and degenerate protein kinases. We identify the most distinctive ROPK-specific features conserved across both active kinases and pseudokinases, and discuss these in terms of sequence motifs, evolutionary context, structural impact and potential functional relevance.

By characterizing the proteins that enable these parasites to invade the host cell and co-opt its signaling mechanisms, we provide guidance on potential therapeutic targets for the diseases caused by coccidian parasites.

Phosphoryl transfer by protein kinase A is captured in a crystal lattice

The catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a serine/threonine kinase responsible for most of the effects of cAMP signaling, and PKA serves as a prototype for the entire kinase family. Despite multiple studies of PKA, the steps involved in phosphoryl transfer, the roles of the catalytically essential magnesium ions, and the processes that govern the rate-limiting step of ADP release are unresolved. Here we identified conditions that yielded slow phosphoryl transfer of the γ-phosphate from the generally nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP, adenosine-5'-(β,γ-imido)triphosphate (AMP-PNP), onto a substrate peptide within protein crystals. By trapping both products in the crystal lattice, we now have a complete resolution profile of all the catalytic steps. One crystal structure refined to 1.55 Å resolution shows two states of the protein with 55% displaying intact AMP-PNP and an unphosphorylated substrate and 45% displaying transfer of the γ-phosphate of AMP-PNP onto the substrate peptide yielding AMP-PN and a phosphorylated substrate. Another structure refined to 2.15 Å resolution displays complete phosphoryl transfer to the substrate. These structures, in addition to trapping both products in the crystal lattice, implicate one magnesium ion, previously termed Mg2, as the more stably bound ion. Following phosphoryl transfer, Mg2 recruits a water molecule to retain an octahedral coordination geometry suggesting the strong binding character of this magnesium ion, and Mg2 remains in the active site following complete phosphoryl transfer while Mg1 is expelled. Loss of Mg1 may thus be an important part of the rate-limiting step of ADP release.

Role of N-terminal myristylation in the structure and regulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase [protein kinase A (PKA)] is a major target of cAMP signaling, and its regulation is of fundamental importance to biological processes. One mode of regulation is N-myristylation, which has eluded structural and functional characterization so far because most crystal structures are of the non-myristylated enzyme, are phosphorylated on Ser10, and generally lack electron density for the first 13 residues. We crystallized myristylated wild-type (WT) PKA and a K7C mutant as binary (bound to a substrate peptide) and ternary [bound to a substrate peptide and adenosine-5'-(β,γ-imido)triphosphate] complexes. There was clear electron density for the entire N-terminus in the binary complexes, both refined to 2.0 Å, and K7C ternary complex, refined to 1.35 Å. The N-termini in these three structures display a novel conformation with a previously unseen helix from residues 1 to 7. The K7C mutant appears to have a more stable N-terminus, and this correlated with a significant decrease in the B-factors for the N-terminus in the myr-K7C complexes compared to the WT binary complex. The N-terminus of the myristylated WT ternary complex, refined to 2.0 Å, was disordered as in previous structures. In addition to a more ordered N-terminus, the myristylated K7C mutant exhibited a 53% increase in k(cat). The effect of nucleotide binding on the structure of the N-terminus in the WT protein and the kinetic changes in the K7C protein suggest that myristylation or occupancy of the myristyl binding pocket may serve as a site for allosteric regulation in the C-subunit.

Cotranslational cis-phosphorylation of the COOH-terminal tail is a key priming step in the maturation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells, regulates a plethora of cellular processes through its ability to phosphorylate many protein substrates, including transcription factors, ion channels, apoptotic proteins, transporters, and metabolic enzymes. The PKA catalytic subunit has two phosphorylation sites, a well-studied site in the activation loop (Thr(197)) and another site in the C-terminal tail (Ser(338)) for which the role of phosphorylation is unknown. We show here, using in vitro studies and experiments with S49 lymphoma cells, that cis-autophosphorylation of Ser(338) occurs cotranslationally, when PKA is associated with ribosomes and precedes posttranslational phosphorylation of the activation loop Thr(197). Ser(338) phoshorylation is not required for PKA activity or formation of the holoenzyme complex; however, it is critical for processing and maturation of PKA, and it is a prerequisite for phosphorylation of Thr(197). After Thr(197) and Ser(338) are phosphorylated, both sites are remarkably resistant to phosphatases. Phosphatase resistance of the activation loop, a unique feature of both PKA and PKG, reflects the distinct way that signal transduction dynamics are controlled by cyclic nucleotide-dependent PKs.

Quantitative assessment of protein structural models by comparison of H/D exchange MS data with exchange behavior accurately predicted by DXCOREX

Peptide amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (DXMS) data are often used to qualitatively support models for protein structure. We have developed and validated a method (DXCOREX) by which exchange data can be used to quantitatively assess the accuracy of three-dimensional (3-D) models of protein structure. The method utilizes the COREX algorithm to predict a protein's amide hydrogen exchange rates by reference to a hypothesized structure, and these values are used to generate a virtual data set (deuteron incorporation per peptide) that can be quantitatively compared with the deuteration level of the peptide probes measured by hydrogen exchange experimentation. The accuracy of DXCOREX was established in studies performed with 13 proteins for which both high-resolution structures and experimental data were available. The DXCOREX-calculated and experimental data for each protein was highly correlated. We then employed correlation analysis of DXCOREX-calculated versus DXMS experimental data to assess the accuracy of a recently proposed structural model for the catalytic domain of a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2). The model's calculated exchange behavior was highly correlated with the experimental exchange results available for the protein, supporting the accuracy of the proposed model. This method of analysis will substantially increase the precision with which experimental hydrogen exchange data can help decipher challenging questions regarding protein structure and dynamics.

Mutants of protein kinase A that mimic the ATP-binding site of Aurora kinase

We describe in the present paper mutations of the catalytic subunit α of PKA (protein kinase A) that introduce amino acid side chains into the ATP-binding site and progressively transform the pocket to mimic that of Aurora protein kinases. The resultant PKA variants are enzymatically active and exhibit high affinity for ATP site inhibitors that are specific for Aurora kinases. These features make the Aurora-chimaeric PKA a valuable tool for structure-based drug discovery tasks. Analysis of crystal structures of the chimaera reveal the roles for individual amino acid residues in the binding of a variety of inhibitors, offering key insights into selectivity mechanisms. Furthermore, the high affinity for Aurora kinase-specific inhibitors, combined with the favourable crystallizability properties of PKA, allow rapid determination of inhibitor complex structures at an atomic resolution. We demonstrate the utility of the Aurora-chimaeric PKA by measuring binding kinetics for three Aurora kinase-specific inhibitors, and present the X-ray structures of the chimaeric enzyme in complex with VX-680 (MK-0457) and JNJ-7706621 [Aurora kinase/CDK (cyclin-dependent kinase) inhibitor].

A conserved Glu-Arg salt bridge connects coevolved motifs that define the eukaryotic protein kinase fold

Eukaryotic protein kinases (EPKs) feature two coevolved structural segments, the Activation segment, which starts with the Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) and ends with the Ala-Pro-Glu (APE) motifs, and the helical GHI subdomain that comprises αG-αH-αI helices. Eukaryotic-like kinases have a much shorter Activation segment and lack the GHI subdomain. They thus lack the conserved salt bridge interaction between the APE Glu and an Arg from the GHI subdomain, a hallmark signature of EPKs. Although the conservation of this salt bridge in EPKs is well known and its implication in diseases has been illustrated by polymorphism analysis, its function has not been carefully studied. In this work, we use murine cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) as the model enzyme (Glu208 and Arg280) to examine the role of these two residues. We showed that Ala replacement of either residue caused a 40- to 120-fold decrease in catalytic efficiency of the enzyme due to an increase in K(m)(ATP) and a decrease in k(cat). Crystal structures, as well as solution studies, also demonstrate that this ion pair contributes to the hydrophobic network and stability of the enzyme. We show that mutation of either Glu or Arg to Ala renders both mutant proteins less effective substrates for upstream kinase phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1. We propose that the Glu208-Arg280 pair serves as a center hub of connectivity between these two structurally conserved elements in EPKs. Mutations of either residue disrupt communication not only between the two segments but also within the rest of the molecule, leading to altered catalytic activity and enzyme regulation.

A conserved non-canonical motif in the pseudoactive site of the ROP5 pseudokinase domain mediates its effect on Toxoplasma virulence

The ROP5 family is a closely related set of polymorphic pseudokinases that are critical to the ability of Toxoplasma to cause disease. Polymorphisms in ROP5 also make it a major determinant of strain-specific differences in virulence. ROP5 possesses all of the major kinase motifs required for catalysis except for a substitution at the catalytic Asp. We show that this substitution in the catalytic loop of ROP5 is part of a motif conserved in other pseudokinases of both Toxoplasma and human origin, and that this motif is required for the full activity in vivo of ROP5. This suggests evolutionary selection at this site for a biochemical function, rather than simple drift away from catalysis. We present the crystal structures of a virulent isoform of ROP5 both in its ATP-bound and -unbound states and have demonstrated that despite maintaining the canonical ATP-binding motifs, ROP5 binds ATP in a distorted conformation mediated by unusual magnesium coordination sites that would not be predicted from the primary sequence. In addition, we have mapped the polymorphisms spread throughout the primary sequence of ROP5 to two major surfaces, including the activation segment of ROP5. This suggests that the pseudoactive site of this class of pseudokinases may have evolved to use the canonical ATP-binding motifs for non-catalytic signaling through allostery.

Structural and functional determinants of protein kinase CK2α: facts and open questions

Ser/Thr protein kinase CK2 is involved in several fundamental processes that regulate the cell life, such as cell cycle progression, gene expression, cell growth, and differentiation and embryogenesis. In various cancers, CK2 shows a markedly elevated activity that has been associated with conditions that favor the onset of the tumor phenotype. This prompts to numerous studies aimed at the identification of compounds that are able to inhibit the catalytic activity of this oncogenic kinase, in particular, of ATP-competitive inhibitors. The many available crystal structures indicate that this enzyme owns some regions of remarkable flexibility which were associated to important functional properties. Of particular relevance is the flexibility, unique among protein kinases, of the hinge region and the following helix αD. This study attempts to unveil the structural bases of this characteristic of CK2. We also analyze some controversial issues concerning the functional interpretation of structural data on maize and human CK2 and try to recognize what is reasonably established and what is still unclear about this enzyme. This analysis can be useful also to outline some principles at the basis of the development of effective ATP-competitive CK2 inhibitors.

Realizing the allosteric potential of the tetrameric protein kinase A RIα holoenzyme

PKA holoenzymes containing two catalytic (C) subunits and a regulatory (R) subunit dimer are activated cooperatively by cAMP. While cooperativity involves the two tandem cAMP binding domains in each R-subunit, additional cooperativity is associated with the tetramer. Of critical importance is the flexible linker in R that contains an inhibitor site (IS). While the IS becomes ordered in the R:C heterodimer, the overall conformation of the tetramer is mediated largely by the N-Linker that connects the D/D domain to the IS. To understand how the N-Linker contributes to assembly of tetrameric holoenzymes, we engineered a monomeric RIα that contains most of the N-Linker, RIα(73-244), and crystallized a holoenzyme complex. Part of the N-linker is now ordered by interactions with a symmetry-related dimer. This complex of two symmetry-related dimers forms a tetramer that reveals novel mechanisms for allosteric regulation and has many features associated with full-length holoenzyme. A model of the tetrameric holoenzyme, based on this structure, is consistent with previous small angle X-ray and neutron scattering data, and is validated with new SAXS data and with an RIα mutation localized to a novel interface unique to the tetramer.

Calculating pKa values in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase: the effect of conformational change and ligand binding

The conformational change observed upon ligand binding and phosphorylation for the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A-PKA) is of high importance for the regulation of its activity. We calculate pKa values and net charges for 18 3D structures of PKA in various conformations and liganded states to examine the role of electrostatics in ligand binding and activation. We find that the conformational change of PKA takes place without any significant net proton uptake/release at all pH values, thus indicating that PKA has evolved to reduce any pH-dependent barriers to the conformational motion. We furthermore find that the binding of ligands induces large changes in the net charge of PKA at most pH values, but significantly, we find that the net charge difference at physiological pH is close to zero, thus indicating that the active-site pKa values have been preorganized for substrate binding. We are unable to unequivocally resolve the identity of the groups responsible for determining the pH-activity profile of PKA but speculate that the titration of Lys 168 or the titration of ATP itself could be responsible for the loss of activity at high pH values. Finally, we examine the effect of point mutations on the pKa values of the PKA catalytic residues and find these to be relatively insensitive to both noncharge-altering and charge-altering mutations.

Co-conserved features associated with cis regulation of ErbB tyrosine kinases

Background

The epidermal growth factor receptor kinases, or ErbB kinases, belong to a large sub-group of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which share a conserved catalytic core. The catalytic core of ErbB kinases have functionally diverged from other RTKs in that they are activated by a unique allosteric mechanism that involves specific interactions between the kinase core and the flanking Juxtamembrane (JM) and COOH-terminal tail (C-terminal tail). Although extensive studies on ErbB and related tyrosine kinases have provided important insights into the structural basis for ErbB kinase functional divergence, the sequence features that contribute to the unique regulation of ErbB kinases have not been systematically explored.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we use a Bayesian approach to identify the selective sequence constraints that most distinguish ErbB kinases from other receptor tyrosine kinases. We find that strong ErbB kinase-specific constraints are imposed on residues that tether the JM and C-terminal tail to key functional regions of the kinase core. A conserved RIxKExE motif in the JM-kinase linker region and a glutamine in the inter-lobe linker are identified as two of the most distinguishing features of the ErbB family. While the RIxKExE motif tethers the C-terminal tail to the N-lobe of the kinase domain, the glutamine tethers the C-terminal tail to hinge regions critical for inter-lobe movement. Comparison of the active and inactive crystal structures of ErbB kinases indicates that the identified residues are conformationally malleable and can potentially contribute to the cis regulation of the kinase core by the JM and C-terminal tail. ErbB3, and EGFR orthologs in sponges and parasitic worms, diverge from some of the canonical ErbB features, providing insights into sub-family and lineage-specific functional specialization.

Conclusion/Significance

Our analysis pinpoints key residues for mutational analysis, and provides new clues to cancer mutations that alter the canonical modes of ErbB kinase regulation.

Dynamics connect substrate recognition to catalysis in protein kinase A

Atomic resolution studies of protein kinases have traditionally been carried out in the inhibitory state, limiting our current knowledge on the mechanisms of substrate recognition and catalysis. Using NMR, X-ray crystallography and thermodynamic measurements, we analyzed the substrate recognition process of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), finding that entropy and protein dynamics play a prominent role. The nucleotide acts as a dynamic and allosteric activator by coupling the two lobes of apo PKA, enhancing the enzyme dynamics synchronously and priming it for catalysis. The formation of the ternary complex is entropically driven, and NMR spin relaxation data reveal that both substrate and PKA are dynamic in the closed state. Our results show that the enzyme toggles between open and closed states, which indicates that a conformational selection rather than an induced-fit mechanism governs substrate recognition.

An enriched structural kinase database to enable kinome-wide structure-based analyses and drug discovery

The development of a kinase structural database, the kinase knowledge base (KKB), is described. It covers all human kinase domain structures that have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank. All structures are renumbered using a common scheme, which enables efficient cross-comparisons and multiple queries of interest to the kinase field. The common numbering scheme is also used to automatically annotate conserved residues and motifs, and conformationally classify the structures based on the DFG-loop and Helix C. Analyses of residue conservation in the ATP binding site using the full human-kinome-sequence alignment lead to the identification of a conserved hydrogen bond between the hinge region backbone and a glycine in the specificity surface. Furthermore, 90% of kinases are found to have at least one stabilizing interaction for the hinge region, which has not been described before.

A helix scaffold for the assembly of active protein kinases

Structures of set of serine-threonine and tyrosine kinases were investigated by the recently developed bioinformatics tool Local Spatial Patterns (LSP) alignment. We report a set of conserved motifs comprised mostly of hydrophobic residues. These residues are scattered throughout the protein sequence and thus were not previously detected by traditional methods. These motifs traverse the conserved protein kinase core and play integrating and regulatory roles. They are anchored to the F-helix, which acts as an organizing "hub" providing precise positioning of the key catalytic and regulatory elements. Consideration of these discovered structures helps to explain previously inexplicable results.

Analysis of protein kinase autophosphorylation using expressed protein ligation and computational modeling

Protein kinases represent a family of enzymes that are critical in cell signaling. One mechanism by which protein kinases are regulated is via autophosphorylation. In the studies described here, we have examined the mechanism of autophosphosphorylation at serine 338 in the regulation of protein kinase A (PKA). Expressed protein ligation allowed for the covalent linkage of an ATP moiety to a Ser mimic at this phosphorylation site. Using a combination of size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence nucleotide binding, kinase measurements, and limited proteolysis assays on this semisynthetic ATP-linked protein, we have obtained unique evidence for an intramolecular autophosphorylation mechanism in PKA regulation. Computational analysis provided a plausible model for a PKA conformation consistent with intramolecular phosphoryl transfer. This approach could be applied to other autoprocessing enzymes by exploiting appropriate transition state analogue motifs in the context of protein semisynthesis.

Conformational analysis of alternative protein structures

MOTIVATION

Alternative structural models determined experimentally are available for an increasing number of proteins. Structural and functional studies of these proteins need to take these models into consideration as they can present considerable structural differences. The characterization of the structural differences and similarities between these models is a fundamental task in structural biology requiring appropriate methods.

RESULTS

We propose a method for characterizing sets of alternative structural models. Three types of analysis are performed: grouping according to structural similarity, visualization and detection of structural variation and comparison of subsets for identifying and locating distinct conformational states. The alpha carbon atoms are used in order to analyse the backbone conformations. Alternatively, side-chain atoms are used for detailed conformational analysis of specific sites. The method takes into account estimates of atom coordinate uncertainty. The invariant regions are used to generate optimal superpositions of these models. We present the results obtained for three proteins showing different degrees of conformational variability: relative motion of two structurally conserved subdomains, a disordered subdomain and flexibility in the functional site associated with ligand binding. The method has been applied in the analysis of the alternative models available in SCOP. Considerable structural variability can be observed for most proteins.

AVAILABILITY

The results of the analysis of the SCOP alternative models, the estimates of coordinate uncertainty as well as the source code of the implementation are available in the STRuster web site: http://struster.bioinf.mpi-inf.mpg.de.

Networks for the allosteric control of protein kinases

The allosteric regulation of protein kinases serves as an efficient strategy for molecular communication, event coupling and interconversion between catalytic states. Recent co-crystal structures have revealed novel ways in which kinases control activity and substrate specificity following phosphorylation, dimerization, or binding to regulatory proteins, substrates and scaffolds. In addition, hydrogen exchange coupled with mass spectrometry is emerging as a complementary strategy to probe the solution behavior of kinases; recent results have shown that allosteric regulation may involve transitions in protein motions as well as structural rearrangements.

E230Q mutation of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase affects local structure and the binding of peptide inhibitor

The active site of the mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (C-subunit) has a cluster of nonconserved acidic residues-Glu127, Glu170, Glu203, Glu230, and Asp241-that are crucial for substrate recognition and binding. Studies have shown that the Glu230 to Gln mutant (E230Q) of the enzyme has physical properties similar to the wild-type enzyme and has decreased affinity for a short peptide substrate, Kemptide. However, recent experiments intended to crystallize ternary complex of the E230Q mutant with MgATP and protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) could only obtain crystals of the apo-enzyme of E230Q mutant. To deduce the possible mechanism that prevented ternary complex formation, we used the relaxed-complex method (Lin, J.-H., et al. J Am Chem Soc 2002, 24, 5632-5633) to study PKI binding to the E230Q mutant C-subunit. In the E230Q mutant, we observed local structural changes of the peptide binding site that correlated closely to the reduced PKI affinity. The structural changes occurred in the F-to-G helix loop and appeared to hinder PKI binding. Reduced electrostatic potential repulsion among Asp241 from the helix loop section and the other acidic residues in the peptide binding site appear to be responsible for the structural change.