3tad

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Liprins are highly conserved scaffold proteins that regulate cell adhesion, cell migration, and synapse development by binding to diverse target proteins. The molecular basis governing liprin/target interactions is poorly understood. The liprin-alpha2/CASK complex structure solved here reveals that the three SAM domains of liprin-alpha form an integrated supramodule that binds to the CASK kinase-like domain. As supported by biochemical and cellular studies, the interaction between liprin-alpha and CASK is unique to vertebrates, implying that the liprin-alpha/CASK interaction is likely to regulate higher-order brain functions in mammals. Consistently, we demonstrate that three recently identified X-linked mental retardation mutants of CASK are defective in binding to liprin-alpha. We also solved the liprin-alpha/liprin-beta SAM domain complex structure, which uncovers the mechanism underlying liprin heterodimerizaion. Finally, formation of the CASK/liprin-alpha/liprin-beta ternary complex suggests that liprins can mediate assembly of target proteins into large protein complexes capable of regulating numerous cellular activities.

Liprin-mediated large signaling complex organization revealed by the liprin-alpha/CASK and liprin-alpha/liprin-beta complex structures.,Wei Z, Zheng S, Spangler SA, Yu C, Hoogenraad CC, Zhang M Mol Cell. 2011 Aug 19;43(4):586-98. PMID:21855798^[2]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.