New conformational state of NHERF1-CXCR2 signaling complex captured by crystal lattice trapping

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 10;8(12):e81904. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081904. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

NHERF1 is a PDZ adaptor protein that scaffolds the assembly of diverse signaling complexes and has been implicated in many cancers. However, little is known about the mechanism responsible for its scaffolding promiscuity or its ability to bind to multiple targets. Computational studies have indicated that PDZ promiscuity may be attributed to its conformational dynamics, but experimental evidence for this relationship remains very limited. Here we examine the conformational flexibility of the NHERF1 PDZ1 domain using crystal lattice trapping via solving PDZ1 structure of a new crystal form. The structure, together with prior PDZ1 structures of a different space group, reveals that 4 of 11 ligand-interacting residues undergo significant crystal packing-induced structural changes. Most of these residues correspond to the residues involved in allosteric transition when a peptide ligand binds. In addition, a subtle difference in ligand conformations causes the same peptide to bind in slightly different modes in different crystal forms. These findings indicate that substantial structural flexibility is present in the PDZ1 peptide-binding pocket, and the structural substate trapped in the present crystal form can be utilized to represent the conformational space accessible to the protein. Such knowledge will be critical for drug design against the NHERF1 PDZ1 domain, highlighting the continued need for experimentally determined PDZ1-ligand complexes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry*
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / genetics
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / chemistry*
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / genetics

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
  • sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor

Associated data

  • PDB/4JL7
  • PDB/4MPA
  • PDB/4N6X

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Leukemia Research Foundation (to ZY) and the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (to ZY), as well as the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation (to CL), American Heart Association (to CL), and American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (#11-053-01-IRG) (to CL). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.