The Affinity of GXXXG Motifs in Transmembrane Helix-Helix Interactions Is Modulated by Long-range Communication

Sequence motifs are responsible for ensuring the proper assembly of transmembrane (TM) helices in the lipid bilayer. To understand the mechanism by which the affinity of a common TM-TM interactive motif is controlled at the sequence level, we compared two well characterized GXXXG motif-containing ho...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:The Journal of biological chemistry 2004-04, Vol.279 (16), p.16591-16597
Hauptverfasser: Melnyk, Roman A., Kim, Sanguk, Curran, A. Rachael, Engelman, Donald M., Bowie, James U., Deber, Charles M.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Sequence motifs are responsible for ensuring the proper assembly of transmembrane (TM) helices in the lipid bilayer. To understand the mechanism by which the affinity of a common TM-TM interactive motif is controlled at the sequence level, we compared two well characterized GXXXG motif-containing homodimers, those formed by human erythrocyte protein glycophorin A (GpA, high-affinity dimer) and those formed by bacteriophage M13 major coat protein (MCP, low affinity dimer). In both constructs, the GXXXG motif is necessary for TM-TM association. Although the remaining interfacial residues (underlined) in GpA (LIXXGVXXGVXXT) differ from those in MCP (VVXXGAXXGIXXF), molecular modeling performed here indicated that GpA and MCP dimers possess the same overall fold. Thus, we could introduce GpA interfacial residues, alone and in combination, into the MCP sequence to help decrypt the determinants of dimer affinity. Using both in vivo TOXCAT assays and SDS-PAGE gel migration rates of synthetic peptides derived from TM regions of the proteins, we found that the most distal interfacial sites, 12 residues apart (and ∼18 Å in structural space), work in concert to control TM-TM affinity synergistically.
ISSN:0021-9258
1083-351X
DOI:10.1074/jbc.M313936200