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  • Uncovering a membrane-dista...
    Van, Que N.; López, Cesar A.; Tonelli, Marco; Taylor, Troy; Niu, Ben; Stanley, Christopher B.; Bhowmik, Debsindhu; Tran, Timothy H.; Frank, Peter H.; Messing, Simon; Alexander, Patrick; Scott, Daniel; Ye, Xiaoying; Drew, Matt; Chertov, Oleg; Lösche, Mathias; Ramanathan, Arvind; Gross, Michael L.; Hengartner, Nicolas W.; Westler, William M.; Markley, John L.; Simanshu, Dhirendra K.; Nissley, Dwight V.; Gillette, William K.; Esposito, Dominic; McCormick, Frank; Gnanakaran, S.; Heinrich, Frank; Stephen, Andrew G.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, 09/2020, Letnik: 117, Številka: 39
    Journal Article

    The small GTPase KRAS is localized at the plasma membrane where it functions as a molecular switch, coupling extracellular growth factor stimulation to intracellular signaling networks. In this process, KRAS recruits effectors, such as RAF kinase, to the plasma membrane where they are activated by a series of complex molecular steps. Defining the membrane-bound state of KRAS is fundamental to understanding the activation of RAF kinase and in evaluating novel therapeutic opportunities for the inhibition of oncogenic KRAS-mediated signaling. We combined multiple biophysical measurements and computational methodologies to generate a consensus model for authentically processed, membrane-anchored KRAS. In contrast to the two membrane-proximal conformations previously reported, we identify a third significantly populated state using a combination of neutron reflectivity, fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP), and NMR. In this highly populated state, which we refer to as “membrane-distal” and estimate to comprise ∼90% of the ensemble, the G-domain does not directly contact the membrane but is tethered via its C-terminal hypervariable region and carboxymethylated farnesyl moiety, as shown by FPOP. Subsequent interaction of the RAF1 RAS binding domain with KRAS does not significantly change G-domain configurations on the membrane but affects their relative populations. Overall, our results are consistent with a directional flycasting mechanism for KRAS, in which the membrane-distal state of the G-domain can effectively recruit RAF kinase from the cytoplasm for activation at the membrane.