Electrostatic interactions positively regulate K-Ras nanocluster formation and function

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Jul;28(13):4377-85. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00050-08. Epub 2008 May 5.

Abstract

The organization of Ras proteins into plasma membrane nanoclusters is essential for high-fidelity signal transmission, but whether the nanoscale environments of different Ras nanoclusters regulate effector interactions is unknown. We show using high-resolution spatial mapping that Raf-1 is recruited to and retained in K-Ras-GTP nanoclusters. In contrast, Raf-1 recruited to the plasma membrane by H-Ras is not retained in H-Ras-GTP nanoclusters. Similarly, upon epidermal growth factor receptor activation, Raf-1 is preferentially recruited to K-Ras-GTP and not H-Ras-GTP nanoclusters. The formation of K-Ras-GTP nanoclusters is inhibited by phosphorylation of S181 in the C-terminal polybasic domain or enhanced by blocking S181 phosphorylation, with a concomitant reduction or increase in Raf-1 plasma membrane recruitment, respectively. Phosphorylation of S181 does not, however, regulate in vivo interactions with the nanocluster scaffold galectin-3 (Gal3), indicating separate roles for the polybasic domain and Gal3 in driving K-Ras nanocluster formation. Together, these data illustrate that Ras nanocluster composition regulates effector recruitment and highlight the importance of lipid/protein nanoscale environments to the activation of signaling cascades.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Cricetinae
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • PC12 Cells
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Static Electricity
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / chemistry*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Transcription Factors
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf
  • ras Proteins