Determinants that control the specific interactions between TAB1 and p38α

Previous studies have revealed that transforming growth factor-beta-activated protein kinase 1 (TAB1) interacts with p38 alpha and induces p38 alpha autophosphorylation. Here, we examine the sequence requirements in TAB1 and p38 alpha that drive their interaction. Deletion and point mutations in TAB1 reveal that a proline residue in the C terminus of TAB1 (Pro412) is necessary for its interaction with p38 alpha. Furthermore, a cryptic D-domain-like docking site was identified adjacent to the N terminus of Pro412, putting Pro412 in the (phi(B)+3 position of the docking site. Through mutational analysis, we found that the previously identified hydrophobic docking groove in p38 alpha is involved in this interaction, whereas the CD domain and ED domain are not. Furthermore, chimeric analysis with p38 beta (which does not bind to TAB1) revealed a previously unidentified locus of p38 alpha comprising Thr218 and Ile275 that is essential for specific binding of p38 alpha to TAB1. Converting either of these residues to the corresponding amino acid of p380 abolishes p38 alpha interaction with TAB1. These p38a mutants still can be fully activated by p38 alpha upstream activating kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6, but their basal activity and activation in response to some extracellular stimuli are reduced. Adjacent to Thr218 and Ile275 is a site where large conformational changes occur in the presence of docking-site peptides derived from p38 alpha substrates and activators. This suggests that TAB1-induced autophosphorylation of p38 alpha results from conformational changes that are similar but unique to those seen in p38 alpha interactions with its substrates and activating kinases

C-ME: A 3D Community-Based, Real-Time Collaboration Tool for Scientific Research and Training

The need for effective collaboration tools is growing as multidisciplinary proteome-wide projects and distributed research teams become more common. The resulting data is often quite disparate, stored in separate locations, and not contextually related. Collaborative Molecular Modeling Environment (C-ME) is an interactive community-based collaboration system that allows researchers to organize information, visualize data on a two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) basis, and share and manage that information with collaborators in real time. C-ME stores the information in industry-standard databases that are immediately accessible by appropriate permission within the computer network directory service or anonymously across the internet through the C-ME application or through a web browser. The system addresses two important aspects of collaboration: context and information management. C-ME allows a researcher to use a 3-D atomic structure model or a 2-D image as a contextual basis on which to attach and share annotations to specific atoms or molecules or to specific regions of a 2-D image. These annotations provide additional information about the atomic structure or image data that can then be evaluated, amended or added to by other project members