促红细胞生成素产生肝细胞受体A2(EphA2)SAM结构域对激酶结构域的脂质体结合能力与激酶活性的调控研究

促红细胞生成素产生肝细胞受体(Eph receptor) 是受体酪氨酸激酶(RTK)家族中最大的亚家族,其介导的双向信号传导对细胞的形态、黏附、运动、增殖、生存及分化都有重要的调控作用。EphA2是Eph受体家族中一个被广泛研究的重要亚型,在白内障和乳腺癌等病理发生过程中发挥了重要作用。既往研究发现:EphA2受体的激酶结构域可结合细胞膜,其激酶活性受磷脂膜的调控,但是相邻的SAM结构域对激酶结构域与脂膜的相互作用以及激酶活性的影响尚不清楚。在此项研究中,通过与磷酸酶PTP1B1-301活性片段共表达的方式,表达、纯化了EphA2受体的胞内段激酶-SAM串联结构域,通过比较胞内段激酶-SAM串联结构域与单独激酶结构域的脂质体结合能力,以及测定对应的激酶活性,发现:EphA2受体胞内段的SAM结构域使其激酶结构域与脂质体(4 mg/mL)的结合能力增强约6倍(P＜0.001);磷酸化后的EphA2胞内段激酶-SAM串联结构域结合脂质体(4 mg/mL)的能力比非磷酸化的胞内段激酶-SAM串联结构域提高2.5倍(P＜0.05);而结合脂质体后,激酶结构域的激酶活性也被进一步提高,从而形成正反馈。综上所述,本研究的发现提示:EphA2胞内段的酪氨酸激酶结构域与相邻的SAM结构域可形成一个完整的结构功能单位,其激酶活性和脂质体结合能力与单独的激酶结构域相比都形成了明显的差异,我们的这一发现对进一步理解Eph受体家族其他亚型的激酶结构域的活性调控提供了参考与思路。     

Binding and Function of Phosphotyrosines of the Ephrin A2 (EphA2) Receptor Using Synthetic Sterile α Motif (SAM) Domains

The sterile α motif (SAM) domain of the ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase, EphA2, undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation, but the effect of phosphorylation on the structure and interactions of the receptor is unknown. Studies to address these questions have been hindered by the difficulty of obtaining site-specifically phosphorylated proteins in adequate amounts. Here, we describe the use of chemically synthesized and specifically modified domain-length peptides to study the behavior of phosphorylated EphA2 SAM domains. We show that tyrosine phosphorylation of any of the three tyrosines, Tyr⁹²¹, Tyr⁹³⁰, and Tyr⁹⁶⁰, has a surprisingly small effect on the EphA2 SAM structure and stability. However, phosphorylation at Tyr⁹²¹ and Tyr⁹³⁰ enables differential binding to the Src homology 2 domain of the adaptor protein Grb7, which we propose will lead to distinct functional outcomes. Setting up different signaling platforms defined by selective interactions with adaptor proteins thus adds another level of regulation to EphA2 signaling.     

Discrimination between Closely Related Cellular Metabolites by the SAM-I Riboswitch

The SAM-I riboswitch is a cis-acting element of genetic control found in bacterial mRNAs that specifically binds S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). We previously determined the 2.9-Å X-ray crystal structure of the effector-binding domain of this RNA element, revealing details of RNA-ligand recognition. To improve this structure, variations were made to the RNA sequence to alter lattice contacts, resulting in a 0.5-Å improvement in crystallographic resolution and allowing for a more accurate refinement of the crystallographic model. The basis for SAM specificity was addressed by a structural analysis of the RNA complexed to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and sinefungin and by measuring the affinity of SAM and SAH for a series of mutants using isothermal titration calorimetry. These data illustrate the importance of two universally conserved base pairs in the RNA that form electrostatic interactions with the positively charged sulfonium group of SAM, thereby providing a basis for discrimination between SAM and SAH.     

Crk Adaptors Negatively Regulate Actin Polymerization in Pedestals Formed by Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) by Binding to Tir Effector

Infections by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) cause diarrhea linked to high infant mortality in developing countries. EPEC adheres to epithelial cells and induces the formation of actin pedestals. Actin polymerization is driven fundamentally through signaling mediated by Tir bacterial effector protein, which inserts in the plasma membrane of the infected cell. Tir binds Nck adaptor proteins, which in turn recruit and activate N-WASP, a ubiquitous member of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome family of proteins. N-WASP activates the Arp2/3 complex to promote actin polymerization. Other proteins aside from components of the Tir-Nck-N-WASP pathway are recruited to the pedestals but their functions are unknown. Here we investigate the function of two alternatively spliced isoforms of Crk adaptors (CrkI/II) and the paralog protein CrkL during pedestal formation by EPEC. We found that the Crk isoforms act as redundant inhibitors of pedestal formation. The SH2 domain of CrkII and CrkL binds to phosphorylated tyrosine 474 of Tir and competes with Nck to bind Tir, preventing its recruitment to pedestals and thereby inhibiting actin polymerization. EPEC infection induces phosphorylation of the major regulatory tyrosine in CrkII and CrkL, possibly preventing the SH2 domain of these proteins from interacting with Tir. Phosphorylated CrkII and CrkL proteins localize specifically to the plasma membrane in contact with EPEC. Our study uncovers a novel role for Crk adaptors at pedestals, opening a new perspective in how these oncoproteins regulate actin polymerization.