scholarly journals The coiled coil domain of DEF6 facilitates formation of large vesicle-like, cytoplasmic aggregates that trap the P-body marker DCP1 and exhibit prion-like features

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaitao Cheng ◽  
Fred Sablitzky

ABSTRACTDEF6, also known as SLAT and IBP, is critical for the development of autoimmune disease and cancer. In T cells, DEF6 participates in TCR-mediated signalling determining T helper cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, DEF6 acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPases facilitating F-actin assembly and stabilisation of the immunological synapse. However, DEF6 is also a component of mRNA processing bodies (P-bodies) linking it to mRNA metabolism. DEF6 can adopt multiple conformations that result in different cellular localisations and functions. Post translational modifications such as phosphorylation result in conformational change liberating functional domains that are masked in the native stage of DEF6. ITK phosphorylation of Try210/222 liberates the N-terminal end and to a certain extend also the C-terminal coiled coil domain of DEF6 resulting in P-body colocalisation. In fact, the N-terminal 45 amino acids of DEF6 that encode a Ca2+-binding EF hand are sufficient to target P-bodies. Mutant proteins that unleashed the C-terminal coiled coil domain of DEF6 spontaneously aggregated forming large vesicle-like, cytoplasmic structures. These aggregates trapped proteins such as the P-body component DCP1 altering its cytoplasmic localisation. However, cellular stress reversed aggregate formation in mutant DEF6 proteins that contained ITAM and PH domain in conjunction with the coiled coil domain resulting in colocalisation with DCP1. Furthermore, coiled coil-mediated aggregates appeared to function like prions enforcing conformational change onto wild type DEF6 protein.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaitao Cheng ◽  
Maha Alsayegh ◽  
Fred Sablitzky

ABSTRACTDEF6 (Differentially Expressed in FDCP 6, also known as IBP and/or SLAT) is critical for the development of autoimmune disease and cancer. In T cells, DEF6 participates in TCR-mediated signalling determining T helper cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, DEF6 acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rho GTPases facilitating F-actin assembly and stabilisation of the immunological synapse (IS). However, DEF6 is also a component of mRNA processing bodies (P-bodies) linking it to mRNA metabolism. Including DEF6, more than 34 proteins have been shown to localise in P-bodies many of which contain a coiled coil domain, a super-secondary structure likely to facilitate interaction between these proteins. Accordingly, we suggested that the coiled coil domain in the C-terminal end of DEF6 was mediating P-body localisation of DEF6 under cellular stress conditions. However, a comprehensive analysis of wild type and mutant DEF6 proteins expressed in COS7 cells revealed that the coiled coil domain is dispensable for P-body colocalisation. Instead, we show here that the N-terminal 45 amino acids of DEF6 that contain one Ca2+-binding EF hand motif are sufficient to target DEF6 to P-bodies whereas the N-terminal 30 amino acids containing a disrupted EF hand motif are insufficient.


2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (11) ◽  
pp. 1883-1889 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.Y. Lee ◽  
B. Pohajdak

B2-1 (cytohesin-1) is a member of a group of proteins (including ARNO and ARNO3) that are all of similar size and domain composition. The three proteins contain an N-terminal coiled-coil domain, followed by a Sec7 and a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. While it is well established that the Sec7 domain functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) and the PH domain anchors the proteins to membrane phosphoinositols, the function of the N-terminal domain is unknown. Here we show that the N terminus of B2-1 (residues 1–54) is necessary and sufficient to target the protein to the Golgi. The Sec7+PH domains of B2-1 (residues 55–398) are not sufficient for Golgi localization. Further deletion analysis and point mutagenesis indicate that the coiled-coil domain within the N terminus is responsible for Golgi targeting. Furthermore, ARNO and ARNO3 N termini also have the same capability of targeting to the Golgi. We conclude that the N-terminal, (α)-helical, coiled-coil domain is used to target this family of proteins to the Golgi complex.


2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (14) ◽  
pp. 2867-2879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Derrien ◽  
Carole Couillault ◽  
Michel Franco ◽  
Stéphanie Martineau ◽  
Philippe Montcourrier ◽  
...  

We recently reported the identification of EFA6 (exchange factor for ARF6), a brain-specific Sec7-domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor that works specifically on ARF6. Here, we have characterized the product of a broadly expressed gene encoding a novel 1056 amino-acid protein that we have named EFA6B. We show that EFA6B, which contains a Sec7 domain that is highly homologous to EFA6, works as an ARF6-specific guanine exchange factor in vitro. Like EFA6, which will be referred to as EFA6A from now on, EFA6B is involved in membrane recycling and colocalizes with ARF6 in actin-rich membrane ruffles and microvilli-like protrusions on the dorsal cell surface in transfected baby hamster kidney cells. Strikingly, homology between EFA6A and EFA6B is not limited to the Sec7 domain but extends to an adjacent pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and a ∼150 amino-acid C-terminal region containing a predicted coiled coil motif. Association of EFA6A with membrane ruffles and microvilli-like structures depends on the PH domain, which probably interacts with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate. Moreover, we show that overexpression of the PH domain/C-terminal region of EFA6A or EFA6B in the absence of the Sec7 domain promotes lengthening of dorsal microvillar protrusions. This morphological change requires the integrity of the coiled-coil motif. Lastly, database analysis reveals that the EFA6-family comprises at least four members in humans and is conserved in multicellular organisms throughout evolution. Our results suggest that EFA6 family guanine exchange factors are modular proteins that work through the coordinated action of the catalytic Sec7 domain to promote ARF6 activation, through the PH domain to regulate association with specific subdomains of the plasma membrane and through the C-terminal region to control actin cytoskeletal reorganization.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1463-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Bi ◽  
Balazs Debreceni ◽  
Kejin Zhu ◽  
Barbara Salani ◽  
Alessandra Eva ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The dbl oncogene encodes a prototype member of the Rho GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) family. Oncogenic activation of proto-Dbl occurs through truncation of the N-terminal 497 residues. The C-terminal half of proto-Dbl includes residues 498 to 680 and 710 to 815, which fold into the Dbl homology (DH) domain and the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, respectively, both of which are essential for cell transformation via the Rho GEF activity or cytoskeletal targeting function. Here we have investigated the mechanism of the apparent negative regulation of proto-Dbl imposed by the N-terminal sequences. Deletion of the N-terminal 285 or C-terminal 100 residues of proto-Dbl did not significantly affect either its transforming activity or GEF activity, while removal of the N-terminal 348 amino acids resulted in a significant increase in both transformation and GEF potential. Proto-Dbl displayed a mostly perinuclear distribution pattern, similar to a polypeptide derived from its N-terminal sequences, whereas onco-Dbl colocalized with actin stress fibers, like the PH domain. Coexpression of the N-terminal 482 residues with onco-Dbl resulted in disruption of its cytoskeletal localization and led to inhibition of onco-Dbl transforming activity. The apparent interference with the DH and PH functions by the N-terminal sequences can be rationalized by the observation that the N-terminal 482 residues or a fragment containing residues 286 to 482 binds specifically to the PH domain, limiting the access of Rho GTPases to the catalytic DH domain and masking the intracellular targeting function of the PH domain. Taken together, our findings unveiled an autoinhibitory mode of regulation of proto-Dbl that is mediated by the intramolecular interaction between its N-terminal sequences and PH domain, directly impacting both the GEF function and intracellular distribution.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kejin Zhu ◽  
Balazs Debreceni ◽  
Feng Bi ◽  
Yi Zheng

ABSTRACT The dbl oncogene product (onco-Dbl) is the prototype member of a family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for Rho GTPases. The Dbl homology (DH) domain of onco-Dbl is responsible for the GEF catalytic activity, and the DH domain, together with the immediately adjacent pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, constitutes the minimum module bearing transforming function. In the present study, we demonstrate that the onco-Dbl protein exists in oligomeric form in vitro and in cells. The oligomerization is mostly homophilic in nature and is mediated by the DH domain. Mutagenesis studies mapped the region involved in oligomerization to the conserved region 2 of the DH domain, which is located at the opposite side of the Rho GTPase interacting surface. Residue His556 of this region, in particular, is important for this activity, since the H556A mutant retained the GEF catalytic capability and the binding activity toward Cdc42 and RhoA in vitro but was deficient in oligomer formation. Consequently, the Rho GTPase activating potential of the H556A mutant was significantly reduced in cells. The focus-forming and anchorage-independent growth activities of onco-Dbl were completely abolished by the His556-to-Ala mutation, whereas the abilities to stimulate cell growth, activate Jun N-terminal kinase, and cause actin cytoskeletal changes were retained by the mutant. The ability of onco-Dbl to oligomerize allowed multiple Rho GTPases to be recruited to the same signaling complex, and such an ability is defective in the H556A mutant. Taken together, these results suggest that oligomerization of onco-Dbl through the DH domain is essential for cellular transformation by providing the means to generate a signaling complex that further augments and/or coordinates its Rho GTPase activating potential.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulsi Upadhyay ◽  
Vaibhav V Karekar ◽  
Ishu Saraogi

AbstractIn bacteria, the co-chaperone GrpE acts as a nucleotide exchange factor and plays an important role in controlling the chaperone cycle of DnaK. The functional form of GrpE is an asymmetric dimer, consisting of a long non-ideal coiled-coil. During heat stress, this region partially unfolds and prevents DnaK nucleotide exchange, ultimately ceasing the chaperone cycle. In this study, we elucidate the role of thermal unfolding of the coiled-coil domain of E. coli GrpE in regulating its co-chaperonic activity. The presence of a stutter disrupts the regular heptad arrangement typically found in an ideal coiled coil resulting in structural distortion. Introduction of hydrophobic residues at the stutter altered the structural stability of the coiled-coil. Using an in vitro FRET assay, we show for the first time that the enhanced stability of GrpE resulted in an increased affinity for DnaK. However, the mutants were defective in in vitro functional assays, and were unable to support bacterial growth at heat shock temperature in a grpE-deleted E. coli strain. This work provides valuable insights into the functional role of a stutter in the GrpE coiled-coil, and its role in regulating the DnaK-chaperone cycle for bacterial survival during heat stress. More generally, our findings illustrate how a sequence specific stutter in a coiled-coil domain regulates the structure function trade-off in proteins.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan T. Silver ◽  
Frederik Wirtz-Peitz ◽  
Sérgio Simões ◽  
Milena Pellikka ◽  
Dong Yan ◽  
...  

AbstractThe spatio-temporal regulation of small Rho GTPases is crucial for the dynamic stability of epithelial tissues. However, how RhoGTPase activity is controlled during development remains largely unknown. To explore the regulation of Rho GTPases in vivo we analyzed the Rho GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF) Cysts, the Drosophila orthologue of mammalian p114RhoGEF, GEF-H1, p190RhoGEF, and AKAP-13. Loss of Cysts causes a phenotype that closely resemble the mutant phenotype of the apical polarity regulator Crumbs. This phenotype can be suppressed by the loss of basolateral polarity proteins suggesting that Cysts in an integral component of the apical polarity protein network. Cysts activates Rho at adherens junctions to promote junctional enrichment of myosin II, which requires the RhoGEF domain and the coiled-coil domain containing C-terminal region of Cysts. Cysts recruitment to the apico-lateral cortex depends on Crumbs and Bazooka/Par3 and requires multiple domains within Cysts including the C-terminal region. Together, our findings indicate that Cysts links apical polarity proteins to Rho1 and myosin activation at adherens junctions to support junctional and epithelial integrity in the Drosophila ectoderm.


2006 ◽  
Vol 400 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Baumeister ◽  
Kent L. Rossman ◽  
John Sondek ◽  
Mark A. Lemmon

Dbl family GEFs (guanine nucleotide-exchange factors) for the Rho GTPases almost invariably contain a PH (pleckstrin homology) domain adjacent to their DH (Dbl homology) domain. The DH domain is responsible for GEF activity, and the PH domain plays a regulatory role that remains poorly understood. We demonstrated previously that Dbl family PH domains bind phosphoinositides with low affinity and cannot function as independent membrane targeting modules. In the present study, we show that dimerization of a Dbs (Dbl's big sister) DH/PH domain fragment is sufficient to drive it to the plasma membrane through a mechanism involving PH domain–phosphoinositide interactions. Thus, the Dbs PH domain could play a significant role in membrane targeting if it co-operates with other domains in the protein. We also show that mutations that prevent phosphoinositide binding by the Dbs PH domain significantly impair cellular GEF activity even in chimaeric proteins that are robustly membrane targeted by farnesylation or by the PH domain of phospholipase C-δ1. This finding argues that the Dbs PH domain plays a regulatory role that is independent of its ability to aid membrane targeting. Thus, we suggest that the PH domain plays dual roles, contributing independently to membrane localization of Dbs (as part of a multi-domain interaction) and allosteric regulation of the DH domain.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Meca ◽  
Aurelie Massoni-Laporte ◽  
Elodie Sartorel ◽  
Denis Martinez ◽  
Antoine Loquet ◽  
...  

While Rho GTPases are indispensible regulators of cellular polarity, the mechanisms underlying their anisotropic activation at membranes have been elusive. Using the budding yeast Cdc42 GTPase module, which includes a Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF) Cdc24 and the scaffold Bem1, we find that avidity generated via multivalent anionic lipid interactions is a critical mechanistic constituent of polarity establishment. We identify Cationic-enriched Lipid Interacting Clusters (CLICs) in Bem1 that drive the interaction of the scaffold-GEF complex with anionic lipids at the cell pole. This interaction increases lipid acyl chain ordering, thus contributing to membrane rigidity and feedback between Cdc42 and the membrane environment. Sequential mutation of the Bem1 CLIC motifs, PX domain and the PH domain of Cdc24 lead to a progressive loss of cellular polarity stemming from defective Cdc42 nanoclustering on the plasma membrane and perturbed signaling. Our work demonstrates the importance of avidity via multivalent anionic lipid interactions in the spatial control of GTPase activation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document