Identification and characterization of Iporin as a novel interaction partner for rab1

Focus on the Small GTPase Rab1: A Key Player in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease. It is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the formation of large aggregates in the survival neurons called Lewy bodies, which mainly contain α-synuclein (α-syn). The cause of cell death is not known but could be due to mitochondrial dysfunction, protein homeostasis failure, and alterations in the secretory/endolysosomal/autophagic pathways. Survival nigral neurons overexpress the small GTPase Rab1. This protein is considered a housekeeping Rab that is necessary to support the secretory pathway, the maintenance of the Golgi complex structure, and the regulation of macroautophagy from yeast to humans. It is also involved in signaling, carcinogenesis, and infection for some pathogens. It has been shown that it is directly linked to the pathogenesis of PD and other neurodegenerative diseases. It has a protective effect against α–σψν toxicity and has recently been shown to be a substrate of LRRK2, which is the most common cause of familial PD and the risk of sporadic disease. In this review, we analyze the key aspects of Rab1 function in dopamine neurons and its implications in PD neurodegeneration/restauration. The results of the current and former research support the notion that this GTPase is a good candidate for therapeutic strategies.

RUSC2 and WDR47 oppositely regulate kinesin-1-dependent distribution of ATG9A to the cell periphery

Autophagy-related protein 9 (ATG9) is a transmembrane protein component of the autophagy machinery that cycles between the trans-Golgi network (TGN) in the perinuclear area and other compartments in the peripheral area of the cell. In mammalian cells, export of the ATG9A isoform from the TGN into ATG9A-containing vesicles is mediated by the adaptor protein 4 (AP-4) complex. However, the mechanisms responsible for the subsequent distribution of these vesicles to the cell periphery are unclear. Herein we show that the AP-4-accessory protein RUSC2 couples ATG9A-containing vesicles to the plus-end-directed microtubule motor kinesin-1 via an interaction between a disordered region of RUSC2 and the kinesin-1 light chain. This interaction is counteracted by the microtubule-associated protein WDR47. These findings uncover a mechanism for the peripheral distribution of ATG9A-containing vesicles involving the function of RUSC2 as a kinesin-1 adaptor and WDR47 as a negative regulator of this function.

Characterisation of the biochemical and cellular roles of native and pathogenic amelogenesis imperfecta mutants of FAM83H

The majority of mutations identified in patients with amelogenesis imperfecta have been mapped to FAM83H. As FAM83H expression is not limited to the enamel, how FAM83H contributes to amelogenesis is still largely unknown. We previously reported that members of the FAM83 family of proteins interact with and regulate the subcellular distribution of the promiscuous serine-threonine protein kinase CK1 family, through their shared N-terminal DUF1669 domains. FAM83H co-localises with CK1 isoforms to speckle-like structures in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. In this report, we show FAM83H, unlike other FAM83 proteins, interacts and colocalises with NCK1/2 tyrosine kinase adaptor proteins. This interaction is mediated by proline-rich motifs within the C-terminus of FAM83H, specifically interacting with the second and third SH3 domains of NCK1/2. Moreover, FAM83H pathogenic AI mutant proteins, which trigger C-terminal truncations of FAM83H, retain their interactions with CK1 isoforms but lose interaction with NCK1/2. These AI mutant FAM83H proteins acquire a nuclear localisation, and recruit CK1 isoforms to the nucleus where CK1 retains its kinase activity. As understanding the constituents of the FAM83H-localised speckles may hold the key to unravelling potential substrates of FAM83H-associated CK1 substrates, we employed a TurboID-based proximity labelling approach and uncovered several proteins including Iporin and BAG3 as potential constituents of the speckles.

EHD1 and RUSC2 Control Basal Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Cell Surface Expression and Recycling

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a prototype receptor tyrosine kinase and an oncoprotein in many solid tumors. Cell surface display of EGFR is essential for cellular responses to its ligands. While postactivation endocytic trafficking of EGFR has been well elucidated, little is known about mechanisms of basal/preactivation surface display of EGFR. Here, we identify a novel role of the endocytic regulator EHD1 and a potential EHD1 partner, RUSC2, in cell surface display of EGFR. EHD1 and RUSC2 colocalize with EGFR in vesicular/tubular structures and at the Golgi compartment. Inducible EHD1 knockdown reduced the cell surface EGFR expression with accumulation at the Golgi compartment, a phenotype rescued by exogenous EHD1. RUSC2 knockdown phenocopied the EHD1 depletion effects. EHD1 or RUSC2 depletion impaired the EGF-induced cell proliferation, demonstrating that the novel, EHD1- and RUSC2-dependent transport of unstimulated EGFR from the Golgi compartment to the cell surface that we describe is functionally important, with implications for physiologic and oncogenic roles of EGFR and targeted cancer therapies.

Golgipathies in Neurodevelopment: A New View of Old Defects

The Golgi apparatus (GA) is involved in a whole spectrum of activities, from lipid biosynthesis and membrane secretion to the posttranslational processing and trafficking of most proteins, the control of mitosis, cell polarity, migration and morphogenesis, and diverse processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, and the stress response. In keeping with its versatility, mutations in GA proteins lead to a number of different disorders, including syndromes with multisystem involvement. Intriguingly, however, > 40% of the GA-related genes known to be associated with disease affect the central or peripheral nervous system, highlighting the critical importance of the GA for neural function. We have previously proposed the term "Golgipathies" in relation to a group of disorders in which mutations in GA proteins or their molecular partners lead to consequences for brain development, in particular postnatal-onset microcephaly (POM), white-matter defects, and intellectual disability (ID). Here, taking into account the broader role of the GA in the nervous system, we refine and enlarge this emerging concept to include other disorders whose symptoms may be indicative of altered neurodevelopmental processes, from neurogenesis to neuronal migration and the secretory function critical for the maturation of postmitotic neurons and myelination.

AP-4 vesicles contribute to spatial control of autophagy via RUSC-dependent peripheral delivery of ATG9A

Adaptor protein 4 (AP-4) is an ancient membrane trafficking complex, whose function has largely remained elusive. In humans, AP-4 deficiency causes a severe neurological disorder of unknown aetiology. We apply unbiased proteomic methods, including 'Dynamic Organellar Maps', to find proteins whose subcellular localisation depends on AP-4. We identify three transmembrane cargo proteins, ATG9A, SERINC1 and SERINC3, and two AP-4 accessory proteins, RUSC1 and RUSC2. We demonstrate that AP-4 deficiency causes missorting of ATG9A in diverse cell types, including patient-derived cells, as well as dysregulation of autophagy. RUSC2 facilitates the transport of AP-4-derived, ATG9A-positive vesicles from the trans-Golgi network to the cell periphery. These vesicles cluster in close association with autophagosomes, suggesting they are the "ATG9A reservoir" required for autophagosome biogenesis. Our study uncovers ATG9A trafficking as a ubiquitous function of the AP-4 pathway. Furthermore, it provides a potential molecular pathomechanism of AP-4 deficiency, through dysregulated spatial control of autophagy.

Loss-of-function mutation in RUSC2 causes intellectual disability and secondary microcephaly

Inherited aberrancies in intracellular vesicular transport are associated with a variety of neurological and non-neurological diseases. RUSC2 is a gene found on chromosome 9p13.3 that codes for iporin, a ubiquitous protein with high expression in the brain that interacts with Rab proteins (GTPases implicated in intracellular protein trafficking). Although mutations in Rab proteins have been described as causing brain abnormalities and intellectual disability, until now no disease-causing mutations in RUSC2 have ever been reported in humans. We describe, to our knowledge for the first time, three patients with inherited homozygous nonsense mutations identified in RUSC2 on whole-exome sequencing. All three patients had central hypotonia, microcephaly, and moderate to severe intellectual disability. Two patients had additional features of early-onset epilepsy and absence of the splenium. This report adds to the ever-expanding landscape of genetic causes of intellectual disability and increases our understanding of the cellular processes underlying this important neurological entity.

Members of the Rusc protein family interact with Sufu and inhibit vertebrate Hedgehog signaling

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is fundamentally important for development and adult tissue homeostasis. It is well established that in vertebrates Sufu directly binds and inhibits Gli proteins, the downstream mediators of Hh signaling. However, it is unclear how the inhibitory function of Sufu towards Gli is regulated. Here we report that the Rusc family of proteins, the biological functions of which are poorly understood, form a heterotrimeric complex with Sufu and Gli. Upon Hh signaling, Rusc is displaced from this complex, followed by dissociation of Gli from Sufu. In mammalian fibroblast cells, knockdown of Rusc2 potentiates Hh signaling by accelerating signaling-induced dissociation of the Sufu-Gli protein complexes. In Xenopus embryos, knockdown of Rusc1 or overexpression of a dominant-negative Rusc enhances Hh signaling during eye development, leading to severe eye defects. Our study thus uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism controlling the response of cells to Hh signaling in vertebrates.

EGF-stimulated activation of Rab35 regulates RUSC2-GIT2 complex formation to stabilize GIT2 during directional lung cancer cell migration

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains one of the most metastasizing tumors, and directional cell migration is critical for targeting tumor metastasis. GIT2 has been known to bind to Paxillin to control cell polarization and directional migration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying roles of GIT2 in controlling cell polarization and directional migration remain elusive. Here we demonstrated GIT2 control cell polarization and direction dependent on the regulation of Golgi through RUSC2. RUSC2 interacts with SHD of GIT2 in various lung cancer cells, and stabilizes GIT2 (Mazaki et al., 2006; Yu et al., 2009) by decreasing degradation and increasing its phosphorylation. Silencing of RUSC2 showed reduced stability of GIT2, defective Golgi reorientation toward the wound edge and decreased directional migration. Moreover, short-term EGF stimulation can increase the interaction between RUSC2 and GIT2, prolonged stimulation leads to a decrease of their interaction through activating Rab35. Silencing of Rab35 also reduced stability and phosphorylation of GIT2 and decreased cell migration. Taken together, our study indicated that RUSC2 participates in EGFR signaling and regulates lung cancer progression, and may be a new therapeutic target against lung cancer metastasis.

Two Rab2 interactors regulate dense-core vesicle maturation

Peptide neuromodulators are released from a unique organelle: the dense-core vesicle. Dense-core vesicles are generated at the trans-Golgi and then sort cargo during maturation before being secreted. To identify proteins that act in this pathway, we performed a genetic screen in Caenorhabditis elegans for mutants defective in dense-core vesicle function. We identified two conserved Rab2-binding proteins: RUND-1, a RUN domain protein, and CCCP-1, a coiled-coil protein. RUND-1 and CCCP-1 colocalize with RAB-2 at the Golgi, and rab-2, rund-1, and cccp-1 mutants have similar defects in sorting soluble and transmembrane dense-core vesicle cargos. RUND-1 also interacts with the Rab2 GAP protein TBC-8 and the BAR domain protein RIC-19, a RAB-2 effector. In summary, a pathway of conserved proteins controls the maturation of dense-core vesicles at the trans-Golgi network.

Nesca, a novel neuronal adapter protein, links the molecular motor kinesin with the pre-synaptic membrane protein, syntaxin-1, in hippocampal neurons

Vesicular transport in neurons plays a vital role in neuronal function and survival. Nesca is a novel protein that we previously identified and herein describe its pattern of expression, subcellular localization and protein-protein interactions both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, a large proportion of Nesca is in tight association with both actin and microtubule cytoskeletal proteins. Nesca binds to F-actin, microtubules, βIII and acetylated α-tubulin, but not neurofilaments or the actin-binding protein drebrin, in in vitro-binding assays. Nesca co-immunoprecipitates with kinesin heavy chain (KIF5B) and kinesin light-chain motors as well as with the synaptic membrane precursor protein, syntaxin-1, and is a constituent of the post-synaptic density. Moreover, in vitro-binding assays indicate that Nesca directly binds KIF5B, kinesin light-chain and syntaxin-1. In contrast, Nesca does not co-immunoprecipitate with the kinesin motors KIF1B, KIF3A nor does it bind syntaxin-4 or the synaptosome-associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP-25) in vitro. Nesca expression in neurons is highly punctuate, co-stains with syntaxin-1, and is found in fractions containing markers of early endosomes and Golgi suggesting that it is involved in vesicular transport. Collectively, these data suggest that Nesca functions as an adapter involved in neuronal vesicular transport including vesicles containing soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors that are essential to exocytosis.

Genome-wide investigation of the Rab binding activity of RUN domains: development of a novel tool that specifically traps GTP-Rab35

The RUN domain is a less conserved protein motif that consists of approximately 70 amino acids, and because RUN domains are often found in proteins involved in the regulation of Rab small GTPases, the RUN domain has been suggested to be involved in Rab-mediated membrane trafficking, possibly as a Rab-binding site. However, since the Rab binding activity of most RUN domains has never been investigated, in this study we performed a genome-wide analysis of the Rab binding activity of the RUN domains of 19 different RUN domain-containing proteins by yeast two-hybrid assays with 60 different Rabs as bait. The results showed that only six of them interact with specific Rab isoforms with different Rab binding specificity, i.e., DENND5A/B with Rab6A/B, PLEKHM2 with Rab1A, RUFY2/3 with Rab33, and RUSC2 with Rab1/Rab35/Rab41. We also identified the minimal functional Rab35-binding site of RUSC2 (amino acid residues 982-1199) and succeeded in developing a novel GTP-Rab35-specific trapper, which we named RBD35 (Rab-binding domain specific for Rab35). Recombinant RBD35 was found to trap GTP-Rab35 specifically both in vitro and in PC12 cells, and overexpression of fluorescently tagged RBD35 in PC12 cells strongly inhibited nerve growth factor-dependent neurite outgrowth.

How do you RUN on?

RUN domain is present in several proteins related to the functions of Rap and Rab family GTPases. Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that RUN domain-containing proteins act as a component of vesicle traffic and might be responsible for an interaction with a filamentous network linked to actin cytoskeleton or microtubules. That is to say, on one hand, RUN domains associate with Rab or Rap family proteins, on the other hand, they also might interact with motor proteins such as kinesin or myosin via intervention molecules. In this review, we summarize the background and current status of RUN domain research with an emphasis on the interaction between RUN domain and motor proteins with respect to the vesicle traffic on filamentous network.

Role of Rab GTPases in membrane traffic and cell physiology

Intracellular membrane traffic defines a complex network of pathways that connects many of the membrane-bound organelles of eukaryotic cells. Although each pathway is governed by its own set of factors, they all contain Rab GTPases that serve as master regulators. In this review, we discuss how Rabs can regulate virtually all steps of membrane traffic from the formation of the transport vesicle at the donor membrane to its fusion at the target membrane. Some of the many regulatory functions performed by Rabs include interacting with diverse effector proteins that select cargo, promoting vesicle movement, and verifying the correct site of fusion. We describe cascade mechanisms that may define directionality in traffic and ensure that different Rabs do not overlap in the pathways that they regulate. Throughout this review we highlight how Rab dysfunction leads to a variety of disease states ranging from infectious diseases to cancer.

Characterizing the interaction between the Rab6 GTPase and Mint3 via flow cytometry based FRET analysis

In extension to previously applied techniques like yeast two-hybrid and GST pull-down assays, we successfully established a FACS-based FRET analysis to investigate the interaction of the Mint3 adaptor protein and the small Rab GTPase Rab6A in living mammalian cells. A Mint3 mutant containing only the PTB domain (Mint3Delta6) is able to interact with the constitutively active form of Rab6A. Mint3Delta4, a mutant lacking part of the PTB domain was unable to interact with Rab6A in GST pull-down analysis and did not produce FRET signals, when co-expressed with active Rab6A. We demonstrate that this FACS-based FRET analysis is a suitable method for interaction studies between two proteins in living cells.

Golgins and GRASPs: holding the Golgi together

The GRASP and golgin families of proteins have emerged as key components of the Golgi apparatus, with major roles in both the structural organisation of this organelle and the trafficking that occurs there. Both types of protein participate in membrane tethering events that occur upstream of membrane fusion as well as contributing to the structural scaffold that defines Golgi architecture, referred to as the Golgi matrix. The importance of these proteins is highlighted by their targeting in mitosis, apoptosis, and pathogenic infections that cause dramatic structural and functional reorganisation of the Golgi apparatus. In this review we will discuss our current understanding of GRASP and golgin function, highlighting some of the common themes that have emerged as well as describing previously unsuspected roles for these proteins in various cellular processes.

Chapter 5: rab proteins and their interaction partners

The Ras superfamily consists of over 150 low molecular weight proteins that cycle between an inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound state and an active guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound state. They are involved in a variety of signal transduction pathways that regulate cell growth, intracellular trafficking, cell migration, and apoptosis. Several methods have been devised to detect and characterize the interacting partners of small GTPases with the aim of better understanding their physiological function in normal cells and tumor cells. The Rab (Ras analog in brain) proteins form the largest family within the Ras superfamily. Rab proteins regulate vesicular trafficking pathways, behaving as membrane-associated molecular switches. The guanine nucleotide-binding status of Rab proteins is modulated by three different classes of regulatory proteins, which have been extensively studied for the Rab molecules but also for other subfamilies of the Ras superfamily. Furthermore, numerous effector molecules have been isolated especially for the Rab subfamily of proteins, which interact via a Rab-binding domain (RBD) and are recruited afterwards to specific sub-cellular compartments by the Rab proteins.

Identification and characterization of interacting partners of Rab GTPases by yeast two-hybrid analyses

Much of our knowledge of the mechanisms governing vesicular transport has come from the combination of genetic and biochemical approaches that have identified Ypt/Rab guanosine 5'-triphosphatases (GTPases) as key components of transport processes in both yeast and mammalian cells. More recently, research has focused on establishing the complex protein-protein interactions necessary for the regulation of vesicular transport by a variety of methods, including the yeast two-hybrid interaction assay. A central component of the signaling pathway regulated by Ypt/Rab proteins is the GTPase cycle, in which the proteins cycle between an active guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-bound form and an inactive guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP)-bound form. Alterations in the conformation of the Ypt/Rab proteins when either GTP or GDP is bound specify the interaction of effector proteins and influence membrane binding. Our work has focused on identifying interacting partners for the GTPases Rab1 and Rab6 and their isoforms, which regulate transport steps between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi in mammalian cells. We have employed both active (GTP-bound) and inactive (GDP-bound) Rab1 and Rab6 mutants to identify potential new interacting proteins using the yeast two-hybrid system and have verified these interactions using alternative methods.

A new heterozygous mutation (R714C) of the osteopetrosis gene, pleckstrin homolog domain containing family M (with run domain) member 1 (PLEKHM1), impairs vesicular acidification and increases TRACP secretion in osteoclasts

We studied phenotypic and cellular aspects in a patient with a heterozygous mutation of the PLEKHM1 gene and obtained some indications regarding the role of the protein in bone cell function. Plekhm1 is involved in osteoclast endosomal vesicle acidification and TRACP exocytosis, contributing to events involved in osteoclast-osteoblast cross-talk.

INTRODUCTION

The gene PLEKHM1 encodes a nonsecretory adaptor protein that localizes to endosomal vesicles. A highly truncated Plekhm1 protein was previously found in a patient with intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We describe a new heterozygous mutation in the PLEKHM1 gene in a patient presenting with low vertebral and femoral T-scores and areas of focal sclerosis. Clinical evaluation, mutational analysis, assessment of in vitro osteoclast morphology and activity, transfection studies, and evaluation of osteoclast-osteoblast cross-talk were carried out.

RESULTS

Direct DNA sequencing showed a heterozygous C to T substitution on cDNA position 2140 of the PLEKHM1 gene, predicted to lead to an R714C mutant protein. The mutation was not found in 104 control chromosomes. In vitro, patient's osteoclasts showed normal formation rate, morphology, number of nuclei, and actin rings but lower TRACP activity and higher endosomal pH than control osteoclasts. The patient had high serum PTH and TRACP, despite low TRACP activity in osteoclasts in vitro. HEK293 cells overexpressing either wildtype or Plekhm1-R714C showed no difference in localization of the variants, and co-transfection with a TRACP vector confirmed low TRACP activity in cells carrying the R714C mutation. RAW 264.7 osteoclast-like cells expressing the Plekhm1-R714C variant also showed low TRACP activity and reduced ability to acidify endosomal compartments compared with cells expressing the wildtype protein. Reduced intracellular TRACP was caused by increased protein secretion rather than reduced expression. TRACP-containing conditioned medium was able to increase osteoblast alkaline phosphatase, suggesting the focal osteosclerosis is a result of increased osteoclast-osteoblast coupling.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide further evidence for a role of Plekhm-1 in osteoclasts by showing that a novel mutation in PLEKHM1 is associated with a complex bone phenotype of generalized osteopenia combined with "focal osteosclerosis." Our data suggest that the mutation affects endosomal acidification/maturation and TRACP exocytosis, with implications for osteoclast-osteoblast cross-talk.

Involvement of PLEKHM1 in osteoclastic vesicular transport and osteopetrosis in incisors absent rats and humans

This study illustrates that Plekhm1 is an essential protein for bone resorption, as loss-of-function mutations were found to underlie the osteopetrotic phenotype of the incisors absent rat as well as an intermediate type of human osteopetrosis. Electron and confocal microscopic analysis demonstrated that monocytes from a patient homozygous for the mutation differentiated into osteoclasts normally, but when cultured on dentine discs, the osteoclasts failed to form ruffled borders and showed little evidence of bone resorption. The presence of both RUN and pleckstrin homology domains suggests that Plekhm1 may be linked to small GTPase signaling. We found that Plekhm1 colocalized with Rab7 to late endosomal/lysosomal vesicles in HEK293 and osteoclast-like cells, an effect that was dependent on the prenylation of Rab7. In conclusion, we believe PLEKHM1 to be a novel gene implicated in the development of osteopetrosis, with a putative critical function in vesicular transport in the osteoclast.

Rab1b interacts with GBF1 and modulates both ARF1 dynamics and COPI association

Assembly of the cytosolic coat protein I (COPI) complex at the ER-Golgi interface is directed by the ADP ribosylation factor1 (Arf1) and its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GBF1). Rab1b GTPase modulates COPI recruitment, but the molecular mechanism underlying this action remains unclear. Our data reveal that in vivo expression of the GTP-restricted Rab1b mutant (Rab1Q67L) increased the association of GBF1 and COPI to peripheral structures localized at the ER exit sites (ERES) interface. Active Rab1b also stabilized Arf1 on Golgi membranes. Furthermore, we characterized GBF1 as a new Rab1b effector, and showed that its N-terminal domain was involved in this interaction. Rab1b small interfering RNA oligonucleotide assays suggested that Rab1b was required for GBF1 membrane association. To further understand how Rab1b functions in ER-to-Golgi transport, we analyzed GFP-Rab1b dynamics in HeLa cells. Time-lapse microscopy indicated that the majority of the Rab1b-labeled punctuated structures are relatively short-lived with limited-range movements. FRAP of Golgi GFP-Rab1bwt showed rapid recovery (t(1/2) 120 s) with minimal dependence on microtubules. Our data support a model where Rab1b-GTP induces GBF1 recruitment at the ERES interface and at the Golgi complex where it is required for COPII/COPI exchange or COPI vesicle formation, respectively.

Giantin interacts with both the small GTPase Rab6 and Rab1

The interaction of small GTPases of the Rab family and coiled coil proteins of the golgin family has been reported for example for the Rab1 GTPase and p115, GM130 and Giantin. We now show that Rab6A, a GTPase that controls retrograde trafficking within the Golgi back to the endoplasmic reticulum is also able to bind to Giantin in vivo and in vitro pointing to an interesting complex formation between Giantin and two different Rab GTPases. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae a genetic interaction between Ypt1 and Ypt6 has already been demonstrated, but in this paper we were able to describe that the mammalian Rab GTPases are able to interact on the same golgin protein, Giantin.

Crystal structure of the RUN domain of the RAP2-interacting protein x

Rap2-interacting protein x (RPIPx) is a homolog of RPIP8, a specific effector of Rap2 GTPase. The N-terminal region of RPIP8, which contains the RUN domain, interacts with Rap2. Using cell-free synthesis and NMR, we determined that the region encompassing residues 83-255 of mouse RPIPx, which is 40-residues larger than the predicted RUN domain (residues 113-245), is the minimum fragment that forms a correctly folded protein. This fragment, the RPIPx RUN domain, interacted specifically with Rap2B in vitro in a nucleotide-dependent manner. The crystal structure of the RPIPx RUN domain was determined at 2.0 A of resolution by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method. The RPIPx RUN domain comprises eight anti-parallel alpha-helices, which form an extensive hydrophobic core, followed by an extended segment. The residues in the core region are highly conserved, suggesting the conservation of the RUN domain-fold among the RUN domain-containing proteins. The residues forming a positively charged surface are conserved between RPIP8 and its homologs, suggesting that this surface is important for Rap2 binding. In the crystal the putative Rap2 binding site of the RPIPx RUN domain interacts with the extended segment in a segment-swapping manner.