Mechanism of arginine sensing by CASTOR1 upstream of mTORC1

The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) is a major regulator of eukaryotic growth that coordinates anabolic and catabolic cellular processes with inputs such as growth factors and nutrients, including amino acids. In mammals arginine is particularly important, promoting diverse physiological effects such as immune cell activation, insulin secretion, and muscle growth, largely mediated through activation of mTORC1 (refs 4, 5, 6, 7).Arginine activates mTORC1 upstream of the Rag family of GTPases, through either the lysosomal amino acid transporter SLC38A9 or the GATOR2-interacting Cellular Arginine Sensor for mTORC1 (CASTOR1). However, the mechanism by which the mTORC1 pathway detects and transmits this arginine signal has been elusive. Here, we present the 1.8 Å crystal structure of arginine-bound CASTOR1. Homodimeric CASTOR1 binds arginine at the interface of two Aspartate kinase, Chorismate mutase, TyrA (ACT) domains, enabling allosteric control of the adjacent GATOR2-binding site to trigger dissociation from GATOR2 and downstream activation of mTORC1. Our data reveal that CASTOR1 shares substantial structural homology with the lysine-binding regulatory domain of prokaryotic aspartate kinases, suggesting that the mTORC1 pathway exploited an ancient, amino-acid-dependent allosteric mechanism to acquire arginine sensitivity. Together, these results establish a structural basis for arginine sensing by the mTORC1 pathway and provide insights into the evolution of a mammalian nutrient sensor.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01CA103866)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant AI47389)United States. Department of Defense (Award W81XWH-07-0448)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant F31 CA180271

Structural basis for leucine sensing by the Sestrin2-mTORC1 pathway

Eukaryotic cells coordinate growth with the availability of nutrients through the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a master growth regulator. Leucine is of particular importance and activates mTORC1 via the Rag guanosine triphosphatases and their regulators GATOR1 and GATOR2. Sestrin2 interacts with GATOR2 and is a leucine sensor. Here we present the 2.7 angstrom crystal structure of Sestrin2 in complex with leucine. Leucine binds through a single pocket that coordinates its charged functional groups and confers specificity for the hydrophobic side chain. A loop encloses leucine and forms a lid-latch mechanism required for binding. A structure-guided mutation in Sestrin2 that decreases its affinity for leucine leads to a concomitant increase in the leucine concentration required for mTORC1 activation in cells. These results provide a structural mechanism of amino acid sensing by the mTORC1 pathway.United States. Department of Defense (W81XWH-07- 0448)Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (DRG-112-12)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Predoctoral Training Grant T32GM007287)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grants R01CA103866, AI47389, T32 GM007753, F30 CA189333, F31 CA180271, and F31 CA189437)United States. Dept. of Defense. Breast Cancer Research Program (Postdoctoral Fellowship BC120208)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (Whitaker Health Sciences Fund Fellowship)Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (Sally Gordon Fellowship DRG-112-12

Structural and biophysical characterization of membrane-coating proteins from the nuclear pore and the primary cilium

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, 2016.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.A hallmark of eukaryotes is an endomembrane system that spatially separates cellular processes into discrete compartments. Macromolecular transport between these compartments canonically involves the fission and fusion of membrane-bound vesicles. Transport to and from the nucleus is a notable exception to this vesicular pathway. Additionally, transport to the primary cilium is not well characterized and is therefore of interest. The nuclear envelope comprises a double membrane that fuses at points to produce pores, which link the nucleoplasm with the cytoplasm. Coating these openings are nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), which regulate all nucleocytoplasmic trafficking by anchoring barrier forming FG-repeat proteins. At 60-120 MDa, the NPC is the largest macromolecular complex in the cell. However, it is a modular assembly formed by -30 different nucleoporins (Nups) arranged into stable subassemblies. One such module is the -600 kDa Y complex, which forms a Y shape and is the best characterized NPC subcomplex with crystal structures accounting for -90% of its total mass. The molecular details of how the short arms of the Y contact the long stem, in a region called the 'hub', were not known. We solved the structure of this last major missing piece of the Y complex to 4.1 A. This hub structure revealed unexpected curvature, allowed us to build the first atomic resolution composite of the mostly complete Y, and led to a novel higher order assembly model of the Y complex in the intact NPC. The ciliary membrane is topologically contiguous with the plasma membrane yet functionally distinct, due to a unique complement of integral membrane proteins. The Bardet- Biedl syndrome protein complex (BBSome) functions in the establishment or maintenance of this unique composition. The BBSome is -500 kDa octamer comprising BBS1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and BBIP10. To date, only the N-terminal domain of BBS1 had been structurally determined. In order to more completely characterize this complex, we have solved the structure of the BBS9 N-terminal [beta]-propeller to 1.8 A and determined its oligomeric state in solution. This structure has allowed us to identify a putative interaction site and characterized a disease relevant mutation on BBS9.by Kevin E. Knockenhauer.Ph. D

A nanobody suite for yeast scaffold nucleoporins provides details of the nuclear pore complex structure

© 2020, The Author(s). Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are the main conduits for molecular exchange across the nuclear envelope. The NPC is a modular assembly of ~500 individual proteins, called nucleoporins or nups. Most scaffolding nups are organized in two multimeric subcomplexes, the Nup84 or Y complex and the Nic96 or inner ring complex. Working in S. cerevisiae, and to study the assembly of these two essential subcomplexes, we here develop a set of twelve nanobodies that recognize seven constituent nucleoporins of the Y and Nic96 complexes. These nanobodies all bind specifically and with high affinity. We present structures of several nup-nanobody complexes, revealing their binding sites. Additionally, constitutive expression of the nanobody suite in S. cerevisiae detect accessible and obstructed surfaces of the Y complex and Nic96 within the NPC. Overall, this suite of nanobodies provides a unique and versatile toolkit for the study of the NPC

The Antiviral Mechanism of an Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein-Specific Single-Domain Antibody Fragment

ABSTRACT Alpaca-derived single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) that target the influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) can protect cells from infection when expressed in the cytosol. We found that one such VHH, αNP-VHH1, exhibits antiviral activity similar to that of Mx proteins by blocking nuclear import of incoming viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) and viral transcription and replication in the nucleus. We determined a 3.2-Å crystal structure of αNP-VHH1 in complex with influenza A virus NP. The VHH binds to a nonconserved region on the body domain of NP, which has been associated with binding to host factors and serves as a determinant of host range. Several of the NP/VHH interface residues determine sensitivity of NP to antiviral Mx GTPases. The structure of the NP/αNP-VHH1 complex affords a plausible explanation for the inhibitory properties of the VHH and suggests a rationale for the antiviral properties of Mx proteins. Such knowledge can be leveraged for much-needed novel antiviral strategies. IMPORTANCE Influenza virus strains can rapidly escape from protection afforded by seasonal vaccines or acquire resistance to available drugs. Additional ways to interfere with the virus life cycle are therefore urgently needed. The influenza virus nucleoprotein is one promising target for antiviral interventions. We have previously isolated alpaca-derived single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) that protect cells from influenza virus infection if expressed intracellularly. We show here that one such VHH exhibits antiviral activities similar to those of proteins of the cellular antiviral defense (Mx proteins). We determined the three-dimensional structure of this VHH in complex with the influenza virus nucleoprotein and identified the interaction site, which overlaps regions that determine sensitivity of the virus to Mx proteins. Our data define a new vulnerability of influenza virus, help us to better understand the cellular antiviral mechanisms, and provide a well-characterized tool to further study them

Allosteric activation of apicomplexan calcium-dependent protein kinases

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) comprise the major group of Ca[superscript 2+]-regulated kinases in plants and protists. It has long been assumed that CDPKs are activated, like other Ca[superscript 2+]-regulated kinases, by derepression of the kinase domain (KD). However, we found that removal of the autoinhibitory domain from Toxoplasma gondii CDPK1 is not sufficient for kinase activation. From a library of heavy chain-only antibody fragments (VHHs), we isolated an antibody (1B7) that binds TgCDPK1 in a conformation-dependent manner and potently inhibits it. We uncovered the molecular basis for this inhibition by solving the crystal structure of the complex and simulating, through molecular dynamics, the effects of 1B7–kinase interactions. In contrast to other Ca[superscript 2+]-regulated kinases, the regulatory domain of TgCDPK1 plays a dual role, inhibiting or activating the kinase in response to changes in Ca[superscript 2+] concentrations. We propose that the regulatory domain of TgCDPK1 acts as a molecular splint to stabilize the otherwise inactive KD. This dependence on allosteric stabilization reveals a novel susceptibility in this important class of parasite enzymes.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant T32GM007287)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship (Grant 1122374