Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Almost all TGF-beta is secreted as part of a large latent complex. This complex is formed from three molecules, a latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein (LTBP), which plays roles in targeting and activation, a latency associated peptide (LAP), which regulates latency, and the TGF-beta cytokine. LAP is the TGF-beta pro-peptide that is cleaved intracellularly prior to secretion, and TGF-beta binds non-covalently to LAP. Formation of the large latent complex is important for the efficient secretion of TGF-beta. Previous studies have revealed that the LTBP-LAP interaction is mediated by intracellular exchange of a single disulphide bond within the third, and only the third, TB domain (TB3) with LAP. We have previously reported the structure of a homologous TB domain from fibrillin-1. However, TB3 contains a two amino acid insertion, not found in fibrillin-1 TB domains, which is not amenable to molecular modelling. In order to clarify the basis of TB domain function, we have determined the solution NMR structure of TB3(LTBP1). Comparison with the fibrillin-1 TB domain reveals that the two-residue insertion is associated with a significant increase in solvent accessibility of one of the disulphide bonds (linking the second and sixth cysteine residues). Site-directed mutagenesis and NMR studies indicate that this is the only disulphide bond that can be removed without perturbing the TB domain fold. Furthermore, a ring of negatively charged residues has been identified that surrounds this disulphide bond. Homology modelling suggests that the surface properties of TB3 domains from different LTBP isoforms correlate with binding activities. This research provides testable hypotheses regarding the molecular basis of complex formation between LTBPs and LAPs.

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Mol Biol

Publication Date

21/11/2003

Volume

334

Pages

281 - 291

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Carrier Proteins, Disulfides, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Transforming Growth Factor beta