Pore-forming proteins (PFPs) represent a functionally important protein family, that are found in organisms from viruses to humans. As a major branch of PFPs, bacteria pore-forming toxins (PFTs) ...permeabilize membranes and usually cause the death of target cells. E. coli hemolysin ClyA is the first member with the pore complex structure solved among α-PFTs, employing α-helices as transmembrane elements. ClyA is proposed to form pores composed of various numbers of protomers. With high-resolution cryo-EM structures, we observe that ClyA pore complexes can exist as newly confirmed oligomers of a tridecamer and a tetradecamer, at estimated resolutions of 3.2 Å and 4.3 Å, respectively. The 2.8 Å cryo-EM structure of a dodecamer dramatically improves the existing structural model. Structural analysis indicates that protomers from distinct oligomers resemble each other and neighboring protomers adopt a conserved interaction mode. We also show a stabilized intermediate state of ClyA during the transition process from soluble monomers to pore complexes. Unexpectedly, even without the formation of mature pore complexes, ClyA can permeabilize membranes and allow leakage of particles less than ~400 Daltons. In addition, we are the first to show that ClyA forms pore complexes in the presence of cholesterol within artificial liposomes. These findings provide new mechanistic insights into the dynamic process of pore assembly for the prototypical α-PFT ClyA.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The ring-shaped cohesin complex regulates transcription, DNA repair, and chromosome segregation by dynamically entrapping chromosomes to promote chromosome compaction and sister-chromatid cohesion. ...The cohesin ring needs to open and close to allow its loading to and release from chromosomes. Cohesin dynamics are controlled by the releasing factors Pds5 and Wapl and the cohesin stabilizer Sororin. Here, we report the crystal structure of human Pds5B bound to a conserved peptide motif found in both Wapl and Sororin. Our structure establishes the basis for how Wapl and Sororin antagonistically influence cohesin dynamics. The structure further reveals that Pds5 can bind inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6). The IP6-binding segment of Pds5B is shaped like the jaw of a plier lever and inhibits the binding of Scc1 to Smc3. We propose that Pds5 stabilizes a transient, open state of cohesin to promote its release from chromosomes.
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•Sororin and Wapl share a previously unidentified YSR motif for Pds5 binding•Structure of human Pds5B reveals a conserved binding site for the YSR motif•Inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) is a structural cofactor of Pds5•The IP6-binding region of Pds5 binds to Scc1 and inhibits its binding to Smc3
The cohesin ring entraps DNA and regulates diverse chromosome processes, including chromosome segregation, transcription, and DNA repair. Pds5 is a critical cohesin regulator. Ouyang et al. report structural and functional analyses of human Pds5 and identify IP6 as an unanticipated cofactor in cohesin dynamics.
Sphingomyelin and cholesterol are essential lipids that are enriched in plasma membranes of animal cells, where they interact to regulate membrane properties and many intracellular signaling ...processes. Despite intense study, the interaction between these lipids in membranes is not well understood. Here, structural and biochemical analyses of ostreolysin A (OlyA), a protein that binds to membranes only when they contain both sphingomyelin and cholesterol, reveal that sphingomyelin adopts two distinct conformations in membranes when cholesterol is present. One conformation, bound by OlyA, is induced by stoichiometric, exothermic interactions with cholesterol, properties that are consistent with sphingomyelin/cholesterol complexes. In its second conformation, sphingomyelin is free from cholesterol and does not bind OlyA. A point mutation abolishes OlyA’s ability to discriminate between these two conformations. In cells, levels of sphingomyelin/cholesterol complexes are held constant over a wide range of plasma membrane cholesterol concentrations, enabling precise regulation of the chemical activity of cholesterol.
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•OlyA detects sphingomyelin/cholesterol complexes but not free sphingomyelin•A shallow channel in OlyA binds ceramide, but not glycerol, phospholipid backbones•OlyA’s cholesterol specificity is determined by a single glutamic acid residue•Plasma membranes maintain constant levels of sphingomyelin/cholesterol complexes
The plasma membrane lipid sphingomyelin has two distinct conformations depending on the presence or absence of cholesterol.
Enzymes with a protein kinase fold transfer phosphate from adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to substrates in a process known as phosphorylation. Here, we show that the
meta-effector SidJ adopts a ...protein kinase fold, yet unexpectedly catalyzes protein polyglutamylation. SidJ is activated by host-cell calmodulin to polyglutamylate the SidE family of ubiquitin (Ub) ligases. Crystal structures of the SidJ-calmodulin complex reveal a protein kinase fold that catalyzes ATP-dependent isopeptide bond formation between the amino group of free glutamate and the γ-carboxyl group of an active-site glutamate in SidE. We show that SidJ polyglutamylation of SidE, and the consequent inactivation of Ub ligase activity, is required for successful
replication in a viable eukaryotic host cell.
Orderly termination of sister-chromatid cohesion during mitosis is critical for accurate chromosome segregation. During prophase, mitotic kinases phosphorylate cohesin and its protector sororin, ...triggering Wapl-dependent cohesin release from chromosome arms. The shugoshin (Sgo1)-PP2A complex protects centromeric cohesin until its cleavage by separase at anaphase onset. Here, we report the crystal structure of a human cohesin subcomplex comprising SA2 and Scc1. Multiple HEAT repeats of SA2 form a dragon-shaped structure. Scc1 makes extensive contacts with SA2, with one binding hotspot. Sgo1 and Wapl compete for binding to a conserved site on SA2-Scc1. At this site, mutations of SA2 residues that disrupt Wapl binding bypass the Sgo1 requirement in cohesion protection. Thus, in addition to recruiting PP2A to dephosphorylate cohesin and sororin, Sgo1 physically shields cohesin from Wapl. This unexpected, direct antagonism between Sgo1 and Wapl augments centromeric cohesion protection.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Hippo pathway controls tissue growth and homeostasis through a central MST-LATS kinase cascade. The scaffold protein SAV1 promotes the activation of this kinase cascade, but the molecular ...mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we discover SAV1-mediated inhibition of the PP2A complex STRIPAK
as a key mechanism of MST1/2 activation. SLMAP binding to autophosphorylated MST2 linker recruits STRIPAK and promotes PP2A-mediated dephosphorylation of MST2 at the activation loop. Our structural and biochemical studies reveal that SAV1 and MST2 heterodimerize through their SARAH domains. Two SAV1-MST2 heterodimers further dimerize through SAV1 WW domains to form a heterotetramer, in which MST2 undergoes trans-autophosphorylation. SAV1 directly binds to STRIPAK and inhibits its phosphatase activity, protecting MST2 activation-loop phosphorylation. Genetic ablation of SLMAP in human cells leads to spontaneous activation of the Hippo pathway and alleviates the need for SAV1 in Hippo signaling. Thus, SAV1 promotes Hippo activation through counteracting the STRIPAK
PP2A phosphatase complex.
The ring-shaped cohesin complex topologically entraps chromosomes and regulates chromosome segregation, transcription, and DNA repair. The cohesin core consists of the structural maintenance of ...chromosomes 1 and 3 (Smc1–Smc3) heterodimeric ATPase, the kleisin subunit sister chromatid cohesion 1 (Scc1) that links the two ATPase heads, and the Scc1-bound adaptor protein Scc3. The sister chromatid cohesion 2 and 4 (Scc2–Scc4) complex loads cohesin onto chromosomes. Mutations of cohesin and its regulators, including Scc2, cause human developmental diseases termed cohesinopathy. Here, we report the crystal structure of Chaetomium thermophilum (Ct) Scc2 and examine its interaction with cohesin. Similar to Scc3 and another Scc1-interacting cohesin regulator, precocious dissociation of sisters 5 (Pds5), Scc2 consists mostly of helical repeats that fold into a hook-shaped structure. Scc2 binds to Scc1 through an N-terminal region of Scc1 that overlaps with its Pds5-binding region. Many cohesinopathy mutations target conserved residues in Scc2 and diminish Ct Scc2 binding to Ct Scc1. Pds5 binding to Scc1 weakens the Scc2–Scc1 interaction. Our study defines a functionally important interaction between the kleisin subunit of cohesin and the hook of Scc2. Through competing with Scc2 for Scc1 binding, Pds5 might contribute to the release of Scc2 from loaded cohesin, freeing Scc2 for additional rounds of loading.
Approximately 10% of human protein kinases are believed to be inactive and named pseudokinases because they lack residues required for catalysis. Here, we show that the highly conserved pseudokinase ...selenoprotein-O (SelO) transfers AMP from ATP to Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues on protein substrates (AMPylation), uncovering a previously unrecognized activity for a member of the protein kinase superfamily. The crystal structure of a SelO homolog reveals a protein kinase-like fold with ATP flipped in the active site, thus providing a structural basis for catalysis. SelO pseudokinases localize to the mitochondria and AMPylate proteins involved in redox homeostasis. Consequently, SelO activity is necessary for the proper cellular response to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that AMPylation may be a more widespread post-translational modification than previously appreciated and that pseudokinases should be analyzed for alternative transferase activities.
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•SelO adopts a protein kinase fold with ATP flipped in the active site•SelO transfers AMP to Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues on protein substrates (AMPylation)•SelO AMPylates proteins involved in redox homeostasis•SelO protects cells from oxidative stress and regulates protein glutathionylation
The structure of SelO, a conserved pseudokinase, reveals ATP flipped in the substrate binding pocket, leading to the discovery that SelO is actually an AMPylating enzyme.
The tumor-suppressive Hippo pathway controls tissue homeostasis through balancing cell proliferation and apoptosis. Activation of the kinases Mst1 and Mst2 (Mst1/2) is a key upstream event in this ...pathway and remains poorly understood. Mst1/2 and their critical regulators RASSFs contain Salvador/RASSF1A/Hippo (SARAH) domains that can homo- and heterodimerize. Here, we report the crystal structures of human Mst2 alone and bound to RASSF5. Mst2 undergoes activation through transautophosphorylation at its activation loop, which requires SARAH-mediated homodimerization. RASSF5 disrupts Mst2 homodimer and blocks Mst2 autoactivation. Binding of RASSF5 to already activated Mst2, however, does not inhibit its kinase activity. Thus, RASSF5 can act as an inhibitor or a potential positive regulator of Mst2, depending on whether it binds to Mst2 before or after activation-loop phosphorylation. We propose that these temporally sensitive functions of RASSFs enable the Hippo pathway to respond to and integrate diverse cellular signals.
•Mst2 autoactivation requires homodimerization mediated by the C-terminal SARAH domain•Distinct residues mediate Mst2 autophosphorylation and its substrate phosphorylation•RASSF5 disrupts Mst2 homodimerization and blocks Mst2 autoactivation•Binding of RASSF5 to preactivated Mst2 does not inhibit its kinase activity
Mst1/2 are upstream kinases in the Hippo pathway that regulate organ size and suppress tumorigenesis. Ni et al. determine the crystal structures of human Mst2 alone and bound to its regulator, RASSF5. Mst1/2 autoactivation depends on SARAH-mediated homodimerization and its temporal regulation by RASSFs.
Significance All organisms regulate biological processes in response to changes in their environment. Bacteria often achieve this control via two-component signal transduction pathways, which use ...histidine kinases to perceive environmental signals and relay this information to downstream effectors. Despite substantial efforts, key aspects of the mechanisms by which histidine kinases are activated by these signals remain poorly understood. In this paper, we present structural and functional data that shed light on the signaling strategy used by a monomeric histidine kinase. Our results demonstrate the versatility of histidine kinases by expanding the prevailing view that they must form dimers to function, while also highlighting conserved aspects of their signaling strategies.
Although histidine kinases (HKs) are critical sensors of external stimuli in prokaryotes, the mechanisms by which their sensor domains control enzymatic activity remain unclear. Here, we report the full-length structure of a blue light-activated HK from Erythrobacter litoralis HTCC2594 (EL346) and the results of biochemical and biophysical studies that explain how it is activated by light. Contrary to the standard view that signaling occurs within HK dimers, EL346 functions as a monomer. Its structure reveals that the light–oxygen–voltage (LOV) sensor domain both controls kinase activity and prevents dimerization by binding one side of a dimerization/histidine phosphotransfer-like (DHpL) domain. The DHpL domain also contacts the catalytic/ATP-binding (CA) domain, keeping EL346 in an inhibited conformation in the dark. Upon light stimulation, interdomain interactions weaken to facilitate activation. Our data suggest that the LOV domain controls kinase activity by affecting the stability of the DHpL/CA interface, releasing the CA domain from an inhibited conformation upon photoactivation. We suggest parallels between EL346 and dimeric HKs, with sensor-induced movements in the DHp similarly remodeling the DHp/CA interface as part of activation.
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