Activation of cap-dependent translation by mucosal human papillomavirus E6 proteins is dependent on the integrity of the LXXLL binding motif

The human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 (HPV16) E6 protein can stimulate mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling and cap-dependent translation through activation of the PDK1 and mTORC2 kinases. Here we report that HPV18 E6 also enhances cap-dependent translation. The integrity of LXXLL and PDZ protein binding domains is important for activation of cap-dependent translation by high-risk mucosal HPV E6 proteins. Consistent with this model, low-risk mucosal HPV6b and HPV11 E6 proteins, which do not contain a PDZ protein binding motif, also activate cap-dependent translation and mTORC1, albeit at a lower efficiency than high-risk HPV E6 proteins. In contrast, cutaneous HPV5 and HPV8 E6 proteins, which lack LXXLL and PDZ motif protein binding, do not enhance cap-dependent translation. Mutagenic analyses of low-risk HPV E6 proteins revealed that association with the LXXLL motif containing ubiquitin ligase E6AP (UBE3A) correlates with activation of cap-dependent translation. Hence, activation of mTORC1 and cap-dependent translation may be important for the viral life cycle in specific epithelial tissue types and contribute to cellular transformation in cooperation with other biological activities of high-risk HPV E6-containing proteins.     

Crystal structure of afadin PDZ domain–nectin‐3 complex shows the structural plasticity of the ligand‐binding site

Afadin, a scaffold protein localized in adherens junctions (AJs), links nectins to the actin cytoskeleton. Nectins are the major cell adhesion molecules of AJs. At the initial stage of cell–cell junction formation, the nectin–afadin interaction plays an indispensable role in AJ biogenesis via recruiting and tethering other components. The afadin PDZ domain (AFPDZ) is responsible for binding the cytoplasmic C‐terminus of nectins. AFPDZ is a class II PDZ domain member, which prefers ligands containing a class II PDZ‐binding motif, X‐Φ‐X‐Φ (Φ, hydrophobic residues); both nectins and other physiological AFPDZ targets contain this class II motif. Here, we report the first crystal structure of the AFPDZ in complex with the nectin‐3 C‐terminal peptide containing the class II motif. We engineered the nectin‐3 C‐terminal peptide and AFPDZ to produce an AFPDZ–nectin‐3 fusion protein and succeeded in obtaining crystals of this complex as a dimer. This novel dimer interface was created by forming an antiparallel β sheet between β2 strands. A major structural change compared with the known AFPDZ structures was observed in the α2 helix. We found an approximately 2.5 Å‐wider ligand‐binding groove, which allows the PDZ to accept bulky class II ligands. Apparently, the last three amino acids of the nectin‐3 C‐terminus were sufficient to bind AFPDZ, in which the two hydrophobic residues are important.     

The interaction of Jagged‐1 cytoplasmic tail with afadin PDZ domain is local,folding‐independent,and tuned by phosphorylation

Jagged‐1, one of the five Notch ligands in man, is a membrane‐spanning protein made of a large extracellular region and a 125‐residue cytoplasmic tail bearing a C‐terminal PDZ recognition motif (¹²¹³RMEYIV¹²¹⁸). Binding of Jagged‐1 intracellular region to the PDZ domain of afadin, a protein located at cell–cell adherens junctions, couples Notch signaling with the adhesion system and the cytoskeleton. Using NMR chemical shift perturbation and surface plasmon resonance, we studied the interaction between the PDZ domain of afadin (AF6_PDZ) and a series of polypeptides comprising the PDZ‐binding motif. Chemical shift mapping of AF6_PDZ upon binding of ligands of different length (6, 24, and 133 residues) showed that the interaction is strictly local and involves only the binding groove in the PDZ. The recombinant protein corresponding to the entire intracellular region of Jagged‐1, J1_ic, is mainly disordered in solution, and chemical shift mapping of J1_ic in the presence of AF6_PDZ showed that binding is not coupled to folding. Binding studies on a series of 24‐residue peptides phosphorylated at different positions showed that phosphorylation of the tyrosine at position ‐2 of the PDZ‐binding motif decreases its affinity for AF6_PDZ, and may play a role in the modulation of this interaction. Finally, we show that the R1213Q mutation located in the PDZ‐binding motif and associated with extrahepatic biliary atresia increases the affinity for AF6_PDZ, suggesting that this syndrome may arise from an imbalance in the coupling of Notch signaling to the cytoskeleton. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparing the binding properties of peptides mimicking the Envelope protein of SARS‐CoV and SARS‐CoV‐2 to the PDZ domain of the tight junction‐associated PALS1 protein

The Envelope protein (E) is one of the four structural proteins encoded by the genome of SARS‐CoV and SARS‐CoV‐2 Coronaviruses. It is an integral membrane protein, highly expressed in the host cell, which is known to have an important role in Coronaviruses maturation, assembly and virulence. The E protein presents a PDZ‐binding motif at its C‐terminus. One of the key interactors of the E protein in the intracellular environment is the PDZ containing protein PALS1. This interaction is known to play a key role in the SARS‐CoV pathology and suspected to affect the integrity of the lung epithelia. In this paper we measured and compared the affinity of peptides mimicking the E protein from SARS‐CoV and SARS‐CoV‐2 for the PDZ domain of PALS1, through equilibrium and kinetic binding experiments. Our results support the hypothesis that the increased virulence of SARS‐CoV‐2 compared to SARS‐CoV may rely on the increased affinity of its Envelope protein for PALS1.     

Delta proteins and MAGI proteins: an interaction of Notch ligands with intracellular scaffolding molecules and its significance for zebrafish development

Delta proteins activate Notch through a binding reaction that depends on their extracellular domains; but the intracellular (C-terminal) domains of the Deltas also have significant functions. All classes of vertebrates possess a subset of Delta proteins with a conserved ATEV* motif at their C termini. These ATEV Deltas include Delta1 and Delta4 in mammals and DeltaD and DeltaC in the zebrafish. We show that these Deltas associate with the membrane-associated scaffolding proteins MAGI1, MAGI2 and MAGI3, through a direct interaction between the C termini of the Deltas and a specific PDZ domain (PDZ4) of the MAGIs. In cultured cells and in subsets of cells in the intact zebrafish embryo, DeltaD and MAGI1 are co-localized at the plasma membrane. The interaction and the co-localization can be abolished by injection of a morpholino that blocks the mRNA splicing reaction that gives DeltaD its terminal valine, on which the interaction depends. Embryos treated in this way appear normal with respect to some known functions of DeltaD as a Notch ligand, including the control of somite segmentation, neurogenesis, and hypochord formation. They do, however, show an anomalous distribution of Rohon-Beard neurons in the dorsal neural tube, suggesting that the Delta-MAGI interaction may play some part in the control of neuron migration.     

Identification of PlexinD1 and AHDC1 as a putative interactors for Tip-1 protein

The class 1 PDZ domain Tip-1 protein was first identified as a binding partner for the Human T-Cell Leukaemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax oncoprotein. It was later shown to interact with: the RhoA signaling effector Rhotekin, the Wnt signaling effector β-catenin and the E6 oncoprotein from high-risk HPV16 but not low-risk HPV6. These observations suggested that Tip-1 may be an important “hub” protein that is involved in pathways with a proven link to carcinogenesis. Based on these findings, it was decided to further characterize the cellular role of Tip-1 by carrying out a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify new binding partners in order to uncover potentially novel functions of this protein. This identified an intracellular fragment of the trans-membrane receptor plexin D1 and a C-terminal fragment of the AT hook DNA binding containing 1 (AHDC1) protein which had a carboxyl terminal PDZ binding domain consensus sequence. Both of these interactions were confirmed by yeast mating assay which was also used to show that mutant constructs of AHDC1 lacking the carboxyl PDZ binding site did not bind Tip-1. Immunofluorescent imaging of these proteins in HPV16 E6 expressing human C33A cervical carcinoma cells suggested they may co-localize.     

D‐AKAP2:PKA RII:PDZK1 ternary complex structure: Insights from the nucleation of a polyvalent scaffold

A‐kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) regulate cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling in space and time. Dual‐specific AKAP2 (D‐AKAP2/AKAP10) binds with high affinity to both RI and RII regulatory subunits of PKA and is anchored to transporters through PDZ domain proteins. Here, we describe a structure of D‐AKAP2 in complex with two interacting partners and the exact mechanism by which a segment that on its own is disordered presents an α‐helix to PKA and a β‐strand to PDZK1. These two motifs nucleate a polyvalent scaffold and show how PKA signaling is linked to the regulation of transporters. Formation of the D‐AKAP2: PKA binary complex is an important first step for high affinity interaction with PDZK1, and the structure reveals important clues toward understanding this phenomenon. In contrast to many other AKAPs, D‐AKAP2 does not interact directly with the membrane protein. Instead, the interaction is facilitated by the C‐terminus of D‐AKAP2, which contains two binding motifs—the D‐AKAP2_AKB and the PDZ motif—that are joined by a short linker and only become ordered upon binding to their respective partner signaling proteins. The D‐AKAP2_AKB binds to the D/D domain of the R‐subunit and the C‐terminal PDZ motif binds to a PDZ domain (from PDZK1) that serves as a bridging protein to the transporter. This structure also provides insights into the fundamental question of why D‐AKAP2 would exhibit a differential mode of binding to the two PKA isoforms.     

Defining the minimal interacting regions of the tight junction protein MAGI-1 and HPV16 E6 oncoprotein for solution structure studies

The oncoprotein E6 produced by tumorigenic high-risk genital human papillomaviruses targets a number of cellular proteins containing PDZ domains for proteasome-mediated degradation. In particular, E6 targets the tight junction protein MAGI-1 by binding to its PDZ1 domain. Using light scattering and NMR, we explored different fragments of both the HPV16 E6 and the MAGI-1 PDZ1 domain to define the best-behaving complex for solution structure studies. We showed that the 70-residue HPV16 E6 C-terminal domain (E6C) can be efficiently substituted by a peptide spanning the 11 C-terminal residues of E6. The construct of MAGI-1 PDZ1 best suited for solution structure analysis presents a 14-residue N-terminal extension and a 26-residue C-terminal extension as compared to the construct used for the recently solved X-ray structure of a MAGI-1 PDZ1/HPV18 E6 complex. These data suggest a stabilizing role for the interdomain linker regions which separate the PDZ1 domain from its neighboring domains.     

MotifAnalyzer‐PDZ: A computational program to investigate the evolution of PDZ‐binding target specificity

Recognition of short linear motifs (SLiMs) or peptides by proteins is an important component of many cellular processes. However, due to limited and degenerate binding motifs, prediction of cellular targets is challenging. In addition, many of these interactions are transient and of relatively low affinity. Here, we focus on one of the largest families of SLiM‐binding domains in the human proteome, the PDZ domain. These domains bind the extreme C‐terminus of target proteins, and are involved in many signaling and trafficking pathways. To predict endogenous targets of PDZ domains, we developed MotifAnalyzer‐PDZ, a program that filters and compares all motif‐satisfying sequences in any publicly available proteome. This approach enables us to determine possible PDZ binding targets in humans and other organisms. Using this program, we predicted and biochemically tested novel human PDZ targets by looking for strong sequence conservation in evolution. We also identified three C‐terminal sequences in choanoflagellates that bind a choanoflagellate PDZ domain, the Monsiga brevicollis SHANK1 PDZ domain (mbSHANK1), with endogenously‐relevant affinities, despite a lack of conservation with the targets of a homologous human PDZ domain, SHANK1. All three are predicted to be signaling proteins, with strong sequence homology to cytosolic and receptor tyrosine kinases. Finally, we analyzed and compared the positional amino acid enrichments in PDZ motif‐satisfying sequences from over a dozen organisms. Overall, MotifAnalyzer‐PDZ is a versatile program to investigate potential PDZ interactions. This proof‐of‐concept work is poised to enable similar types of analyses for other SLiM‐binding domains (e.g., MotifAnalyzer‐Kinase). MotifAnalyzer‐PDZ is available at http://motifAnalyzerPDZ.cs.wwu.edu .     

Role of the PDZ domain-binding motif of the oncoprotein E6 in the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus type 31

A number of PDZ domain-containing proteins have been identified as binding partners for the oncoprotein E6 of the high-risk type human papillomaviruses (HPVs). These include hDlg, hScrib, MAGI-1, MAGI-2, MAGI-3, and MUPP1. The PDZ domain-binding motif (-X-T-X-V) at the carboxy terminus of E6 is essential for targeting PDZ proteins for proteasomal degradation. The presence of this motif only in the high-risk HPVs suggests its possible role in HPV-induced oncogenesis. To investigate the role of the PDZ domain-binding motif of E6 in the HPV life cycle, two mutant HPV31 genomes were constructed: E6ValDelta, with a deletion of the last amino acid residue of E6 (valine), and E6ETQVDelta, with a deletion of the entire PDZ domain-binding motif of E6 (ETQV). Three human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cell lines were established which maintained transfected wild-type HPV31 or either of two mutant genomes. Cells containing either of two mutant genomes were significantly retarded in their growth rates and reduced in their viral copy numbers compared to those transfected with wild-type genomes. Western analysis did not reveal any significant changes in the levels of PDZ proteins following stable transfection of any HPV31 genomes into HFKs. Although the E6ETQVDelta-transfected HFKs exhibited a pattern of morphological differentiation that appeared different from the HPV31 wild-type-transfected HFKs in organotypic raft cultures, immunohistochemical analysis failed to identify substantial changes in the differentiation-dependent membrane localization of hDlg proteins. These results suggest that binding of E6 to PDZ proteins modulates the early viral functions such as proliferation and maintenance of the viral copy number in undifferentiated cells.     

The structural and dynamic response of MAGI-1 PDZ1 with noncanonical domain boundaries to the binding of human papillomavirus E6

PDZ domains are protein interaction domains that are found in cytoplasmic proteins involved in signaling pathways and subcellular transport. Their roles in the control of cell growth, cell polarity, and cell adhesion in response to cell contact render this family of proteins targets during the development of cancer. Targeting of these network hubs by the oncoprotein E6 of “high-risk” human papillomaviruses (HPVs) serves to effect the efficient disruption of cellular processes. Using NMR, we have solved the three-dimensional solution structure of an extended construct of the second PDZ domain of MAGI-1 (MAGI-1 PDZ1) alone and bound to a peptide derived from the C-terminus of HPV16 E6, and we have characterized the changes in backbone dynamics and hydrogen bonding that occur upon binding. The binding event induces quenching of high-frequency motions in the C-terminal tail of the PDZ domain, which contacts the peptide upstream of the canonical X-[T/S]-X-[L/V] binding motif. Mutations designed in the C-terminal flanking region of the PDZ domain resulted in a significant decrease in binding affinity for E6 peptides. This detailed analysis supports the notion of a global response of the PDZ domain to the binding event, with effects propagated to distal sites, and reveals unexpected roles for the sequences flanking the canonical PDZ domain boundaries.     

利用随机多肽文库研究ZO-1中PDZ3结构域的配体结合特点

建立一种研究PDZ结构域配体结合特点的简单方法 .利用酵母双杂交技术从随机多肽文库中寻找所有可能与ZO 1中PDZ3结构域结合的C末端序列 ,从现有蛋白质数据库中检索所有具有该C末端蛋白 .利用液体培养物 β 半乳糖苷酶检测实验 ,比较文库中筛选的C末端序列和已知的PDZ3结构域结合配体———JAM的C末端 (SFLV)与PDZ3结构域结合的强弱 .共筛选到 3个阳性克隆 ,其C末端序列分别为 LGWV、 LVWV和 DEWV .前 2者属于第二类PDZ结构域 ,后者属于第三类 .蛋白质数据库检索结果表明 ,有多个蛋白质具有 LGWV、 LVWV末端 ,没有检索到任何具有 DEWV末端的蛋白质 .结合强度实验结果表明 ,它们与PDZ3结构域结合强度依次为 DEWV > LGWV > LVWV > SFLV ,说明筛选的 3个C末端除了反映ZO 1中PDZ3结构域可能的潜在结合配体外 ,也有可能成为JAM蛋白阻断性试剂甚至药物的重要组成部分之一 .利用随机多肽文库 ,可以尽可能寻找所有可能与PDZ结构域结合的C末端序列 ,大大提高了基因文库筛选的效率     

Structure of PICK1 and other PDZ domains obtained with the help of self-binding C-terminal extensions

PDZ domains are protein-protein interaction modules that generally bind to the C termini of their target proteins. The C-terminal four amino acids of a prospective binding partner of a PDZ domain are typically the determinants of binding specificity. In an effort to determine the structures of a number of PDZ domains we have included appropriate four residue extensions on the C termini of PDZ domain truncation mutants, designed for self-binding. Multiple truncations of each PDZ domain were generated. The four residue extensions, which represent known specificity sequences of the target PDZ domains and cover both class I and II motifs, form intermolecular contacts in the expected manner for the interactions of PDZ domains with protein C termini for both classes. We present the structures of eight unique PDZ domains crystallized using this approach and focus on four which provide information on selectivity (PICK1 and the third PDZ domain of DLG2), binding site flexibility (the third PDZ domain of MPDZ), and peptide-domain interactions (MPDZ 12th PDZ domain). Analysis of our results shows a clear improvement in the chances of obtaining PDZ domain crystals by using this approach compared to similar truncations of the PDZ domains without the C-terminal four residue extensions.     

A systematic analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 PDZ substrates identifies MAGI-1 as a major target of HPV type 16 (HPV-16) and HPV-18 whose loss accompanies disruption of tight junctions

The E6 proteins from high-risk, cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are characterized by the presence of a PDZ (PSD95/Dlg/ZO-1) binding motif in their extreme carboxy termini, through which they interact with a number of cellular PDZ domain-containing substrates. In order to ascertain how many of these are degraded by E6 in vivo, we performed an extensive analysis of the effects of E6 ablation on the expression levels of a number of previously reported E6 PDZ substrates. Using HPV type 16 (HPV-16)-positive CaSKi cells and HPV-18-positive HeLa cells, we have found that MAGI-1 is a major degradation target of both HPV-16 and HPV-18 E6. In contrast, hDlg, hScrib, PTPN3, TIP2, FAP1, and PSD95 all exhibit various degrees of susceptibility to E6-induced degradation, and a high degree of HPV type specificity is observed for certain substrates. We also show that E6 preferentially targets MAGI-1 within the nucleus and at membrane sites. One of the direct consequences of MAGI-1 degradation is a loss of tight-junction integrity, as determined by mislocalization of the tight-junction protein ZO-1. Ablation of E6 expression restores tight junctions, and this restoration is dependent on the presence of MAGI-1. These results demonstrate that oncogenic HPV E6 proteins disrupt cellular tight junctions through the degradation of MAGI-1, and they provide further evidence of how the PDZ binding potential of E6 can contribute to HPV-induced malignancy.     

E6 and E7 from human papillomavirus type 16 cooperate to target the PDZ protein Na/H exchange regulatory factor 1

Previous studies have shown that the PDZ-binding motif of the E6 oncoprotein from the mucosal high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) types plays a key role in HPV-mediated cellular transformation in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. HR HPV E6 oncoproteins have the ability to efficiently degrade members of the PDZ motif-containing membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family; however, it is possible that other PDZ proteins are also targeted by E6. Here, we describe a novel interaction of HPV type 16 (HPV16) E6 with a PDZ protein, Na(+)/H(+) exchange regulatory factor 1 (NHERF-1), which is involved in a number of cellular processes, including signaling and transformation. HPV16 E6 associates with and promotes the degradation of NHERF-1, and this property is dependent on the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif of E6. Interestingly, HPV16 E7, via the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase complexes, promoted the accumulation of a phosphorylated form of NHERF-1, which is preferentially targeted by E6. Thus, both oncoproteins appear to cooperate in targeting NHERF-1. Notably, HPV18 E6 is not able to induce NHERF-1 degradation, indicating that this property is not shared with E6 from all HR HPV types. Downregulation of NHERF-1 protein levels was also observed in HPV16-positive cervical cancer-derived cell lines, such as SiHa and CaSki, as well as HPV16-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Finally, our data show that HPV16-mediated NHERF-1 degradation correlates with the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3'-OH kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, which is known to play a key role in carcinogenesis.     

Biophysical characterization of the complex between human papillomavirus E6 protein and synapse-associated protein 97

The E6 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) exhibits complex interaction patterns with several host proteins, and their roles in HPV-mediated oncogenesis have proved challenging to study. Here we use several biophysical techniques to explore the binding of E6 to the three PDZ domains of the tumor suppressor protein synapse-associated protein 97 (SAP97). All of the potential binding sites in SAP97 bind E6 with micromolar affinity. The dissociation rate constants govern the different affinities of HPV16 and HPV18 E6 for SAP97. Unexpectedly, binding is not mutually exclusive, and all three PDZ domains can simultaneously bind E6. Intriguingly, this quaternary complex has the same apparent hydrodynamic volume as the unliganded PDZ region, suggesting that a conformational change occurs in the PDZ region upon binding, a conclusion supported by kinetic experiments. Using NMR, we discovered a new mode of interaction between E6 and PDZ: a subset of residues distal to the canonical binding pocket in the PDZ(2) domain exhibited noncanonical interactions with the E6 protein. This is consistent with a larger proportion of the protein surface defining binding specificity, as compared with that reported previously.     

Structures of a human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 polypeptide bound to MAGUK proteins: mechanisms of targeting tumor suppressors by a high-risk HPV oncoprotein

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoprotein targets certain tumor suppressors such as MAGI-1 and SAP97/hDlg for degradation. A short peptide at the C terminus of E6 interacts specifically with the PDZ domains of these tumor suppressors, which is a property unique to high-risk HPVs that are associated with cervical cancer. The detailed recognition mechanisms between HPV E6 and PDZ proteins are unclear. To understand the specific binding of cellular PDZ substrates by HPV E6, we have solved the crystal structures of the complexes containing a peptide from HPV18 E6 bound to three PDZ domains from MAGI-1 and SAP97/Dlg. The complex crystal structures reveal novel features of PDZ peptide recognition that explain why high-risk HPV E6 can specifically target these cellular tumor suppressors for destruction. Moreover, a new peptide-binding loop on these PDZs is identified as interacting with the E6 peptide. Furthermore, we have identified an arginine residue, unique to high-risk HPV E6 but outside the canonical core PDZ recognition motif, that plays an important role in the binding of the PDZs of both MAGI-I and SAP97/Dlg, the mutation of which abolishes E6's ability to degrade the two proteins. Finally, we have identified a dimer form of MAGI-1 PDZ domain 1 in the cocrystal structure with E6 peptide, which may have functional relevance for MAGI-1 activity. In addition to its novel insights into the biochemistry of PDZ interactions, this study is important for understanding HPV-induced oncogenesis; this could provide a basis for developing antiviral and anticancer compounds.     

SED1/MFG‐E8: A Bi‐Motif protein that orchestrates diverse cellular interactions

MFG‐E8 was initially identified as a principle component of the Milk Fat Globule, a membrane‐encased collection of proteins and triglycerides that bud from the apical surface of mammary epithelia during lactation. It has since been independently identified in many species and by many investigators and given a variety of names, including p47, lactadherin, rAGS, PAS6/7, and BA‐46. The acronym SED1 was proposed to bring cohesion to this nomenclature based upon it being a Secreted protein that contains two distinct functional domains: an N‐terminal domain with two EGF‐repeats, the second of which has an integrin‐binding RGD motif, and a C‐terminal domain with two Discoidin/F5/8C domains that bind to anionic phospholipids and/or extracellular matrices. SED1/MFG‐E8 is now known to participate in a wide variety of cellular interactions, including phagocytosis of apoptotic lymphocytes and other apoptotic cells, adhesion between sperm and the egg coat, repair of intestinal mucosa, mammary gland branching morphogenesis, angiogenesis, among others. This article will explore the various roles proposed for SED1/MFG‐E8, as well as its provocative therapeutic potential. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 957–966, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Molecular architecture of LSM14 interactions involved in the assembly of mRNA silencing complexes

The LSM domain‐containing protein LSM14/Rap55 plays a role in mRNA decapping, translational repression, and RNA granule (P‐body) assembly. How LSM14 interacts with the mRNA silencing machinery, including the eIF4E‐binding protein 4E‐T and the DEAD‐box helicase DDX6, is poorly understood. Here we report the crystal structure of the LSM domain of LSM14 bound to a highly conserved C‐terminal fragment of 4E‐T. The 4E‐T C‐terminus forms a bi‐partite motif that wraps around the N‐terminal LSM domain of LSM14. We also determined the crystal structure of LSM14 bound to the C‐terminal RecA‐like domain of DDX6. LSM14 binds DDX6 via a unique non‐contiguous motif with distinct directionality as compared to other DDX6‐interacting proteins. Together with mutational and proteomic studies, the LSM14‐DDX6 structure reveals that LSM14 has adopted a divergent mode of binding DDX6 in order to support the formation of mRNA silencing complexes and P‐body assembly.