Structural flexibility regulates phosphopeptide-binding activity of the tyrosine kinase binding domain of Cbl-c

J Biochem. 2012 Nov;152(5):487-95. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvs085. Epub 2012 Aug 9.

Abstract

Through their ubiquitin ligase activity, Cbl-family proteins suppress signalling mediated by protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs), but can also function as adaptor proteins to positively regulate signalling. The tyrosine kinase binding (TKB) domain of this family is critical for binding with tyrosine-phosphorylated target proteins. Here, we analysed the crystal structure of the TKB domain of Cbl-c/Cbl-3 (Cbl-c TKB), which is a distinct member of the mammalian Cbl-family. In comparison with Cbl TKB, Cbl-c TKB showed restricted structural flexibility upon phosphopeptide binding. A mutation in Cbl-c TKB augmenting this flexibility enhanced its binding to target phosphoproteins. These results suggest that proteins, post-translational modifications or mutations that alter structural flexibility of the TKB domain of Cbl-family proteins could regulate their binding to target phosphoproteins and thereby, affect PTK-mediated signalling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Crystallization
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • Phosphopeptides / chemistry
  • Phosphopeptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / isolation & purification
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / metabolism*

Substances

  • Phosphopeptides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases