Differential interactions of p23 and the TPR-containing proteins Hop, Cyp40, FKBP52 and FKBP51 with Hsp90 mutants

Hsp90 is required for the normal function of steroid receptors, but its binding to steroid receptors is mediated by Hsc70 and several hsp-associated accessory proteins. An assortment of Hsp90 mutants were tested for their abilities to interact with each of the following accessories: Hop, Cyp40, FKBP52, FKBP51, and p23. Of the 11 Hsp90 mutants tested, all were defective to some extent in associating with progestin (PR) complexes. In every case, however, reduced PR binding correlated with a defect in binding of one or more accessories. Co-precipitation of mutant Hsp90 forms with individual accessories was used to map Hsp90 sequences required for accessory protein interactions. Mutation of Hsp90's highly conserved C-terminal EEVD to AAVD resulted in diminished interactions with several accessory proteins, most particularly with Hop. Deletion of amino acids 661–677 resulted in loss of Hsp90 dimerization and also caused diminished interactions with all accessory proteins. Binding of p23 mapped most strongly to the N-terminal ATP-binding domain of Hsp90 while binding of TPR proteins mapped to the C-terminal half of Hsp90. These results and others further suggest that the N- and C-terminal regions of Hsp90 maintain important conformational links through intramolecular interactions and/or intermolecular influences in homodimers.