Structural insights into the dual nucleotide exchange and GDI displacement activity of SidM/DrrA

EMBO J. 2010 Jan 20;29(2):496-504. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2009.347. Epub 2009 Nov 26.

Abstract

GDP-bound prenylated Rabs, sequestered by GDI (GDP dissociation inhibitor) in the cytosol, are delivered to destined sub-cellular compartment and subsequently activated by GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors) catalysing GDP-to-GTP exchange. The dissociation of GDI from Rabs is believed to require a GDF (GDI displacement factor). Only two RabGDFs, human PRA-1 and Legionella pneumophila SidM/DrrA, have been identified so far and the molecular mechanism of GDF is elusive. Here, we present the structure of a SidM/DrrA fragment possessing dual GEF and GDF activity in complex with Rab1. SidM/DrrA reconfigures the Switch regions of the GTPase domain of Rab1, as eukaryotic GEFs do toward cognate Rabs. Structure-based mutational analyses show that the surface of SidM/DrrA, catalysing nucleotide exchange, is involved in GDI1 displacement from prenylated Rab1:GDP. In comparison with an eukaryotic GEF TRAPP I, this bacterial GEF/GDF exhibits high binding affinity for Rab1 with GDP retained at the active site, which appears as the key feature for the GDF activity of the protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / chemistry*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Guanosine Diphosphate / metabolism
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila / metabolism*
  • Legionnaires' Disease / metabolism*
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Magnesium / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Substrate Specificity
  • rab1 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • DrrA protein, Bacteria
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Liposomes
  • SidM protein, Legionella pneumophila
  • rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors
  • Guanosine Diphosphate
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • rab1 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Magnesium

Associated data

  • PDB/2WWX