Hsp90 picks PIKKs via R2TP and Tel2

Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-like kinases (PIKKs) are dependent on Hsp90 for their activation via the R2TP complex and Tel2. In this issue of Structure, Pal and colleagues present the molecular mechanism by which PIKKs are recruited to Hsp90

Insights into Centromere DNA bending revealed by the Cryo-EM structure of the core Centromere Binding Factor 3 with Ndc10

The Centromere Binding Factor 3 (CBF3) complex binds the third Centromere DNA Element in organisms with point centromeres, such as S. cerevisiae. It is an essential complex for assembly of the kinetochore in these organisms as it facilitates genetic centromere specification and allows association of all other kinetochore components. We determined high resolution structures of the core complex of CBF3 alone and in association with a monomeric construct of Ndc10, using cryo-EM. We identify the DNA binding site of the complex and present a model in which CBF3 induces a tight bend in centromeric DNA, thus facilitating assembly of the centromeric nucleosome

Structure of an Hsp90-Cdc37-Cdk4 complex

Activation of many protein kinases depends on their interaction with the Hsp90 molecular chaperone system. Recruitment of protein kinase clients to the Hsp90 chaperone system is mediated by the cochaperone adaptor protein Cdc37, which acts as a scaffold, simultaneously binding protein kinases and Hsp90. We have now expressed and purified an Hsp90-Cdc37-Cdk4 complex, defined its stoichiometry, and determined its 3D structure by single-particle electron microscopy. Comparison with the crystal structure of Hsp90 allows us to identify the locations of Cdc37 and Cdk4 in the complex and suggests a mechanism by which conformational changes in the kinase are coupled to the Hsp90 ATPase cycle

X-linked primary ciliary dyskinesia due to mutations in the cytoplasmic axonemal dynein assembly factor PIH1D3

By moving essential body fluids and molecules, motile cilia and flagella govern respiratory mucociliary clearance, laterality determination and the transport of gametes and cerebrospinal fluid. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder frequently caused by non-assembly of dynein arm motors into cilia and flagella axonemes. Before their import into cilia and flagella, multi-subunit axonemal dynein arms are thought to be stabilized and pre-assembled in the cytoplasm through a DNAAF2–DNAAF4–HSP90 complex akin to the HSP90 co-chaperone R2TP complex. Here, we demonstrate that large genomic deletions as well as point mutations involving PIH1D3 are responsible for an X-linked form of PCD causing disruption of early axonemal dynein assembly. We propose that PIH1D3, a protein that emerges as a new player of the cytoplasmic pre-assembly pathway, is part of a complementary conserved R2TP-like HSP90 co-chaperone complex, the loss of which affects assembly of a subset of inner arm dyneins

beta-Amylase-like proteins function as transcription factors in Arabidopsis, controlling shoot growth and development

Plants contain beta-amylase-like proteins (BAMs; enzymes usually associated with starch breakdown) present in the nucleus rather than targeted to the chloroplast. They possess BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 (BZR1)-type DNA binding domains-also found in transcription factors mediating brassinosteroid (BR) responses. The two Arabidopsis thaliana BZR1-BAM proteins (BAM7 and BAM8) bind a cis-regulatory element that both contains a G box and resembles a BR-responsive element. In protoplast transactivation assays, these BZR1-BAMs activate gene expression. Structural modeling suggests that the BAM domain's glucan binding cleft is intact, but the recombinant proteins are at least 1000 times less active than chloroplastic beta-amylases. Deregulation of BZR1-BAMs (the bam7bam8 double mutant and BAM8-overexpressing plants) causes altered leaf growth and development. Of the genes upregulated in plants overexpressing BAM8 and downregulated in bam7bam8 plants, many carry the cis-regulatory element in their promoters. Many genes that respond to BRs are inversely regulated by BZR1-BAMs. We propose a role for BZR1-BAMs in controlling plant growth and development through crosstalk with BR signaling. Furthermore, we speculate that BZR1-BAMs may transmit metabolic signals by binding a ligand in their BAM domain, although diurnal changes in the concentration of maltose, a candidate ligand produced by chloroplastic b-amylases, do not influence their transcription factor function

Chaperone ligand-discrimination by the TPR-domain protein Tah1

Tah1 [TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat)-containing protein associated with Hsp (heat-shock protein) 90] has been identified as a TPR-domain protein. TPR-domain proteins are involved in protein–protein interactions and a number have been characterized that interact either with Hsp70 or Hsp90, but a few can bind both chaperones. Independent studies suggest that Tah1 interacts with Hsp90, but whether it can also interact with Hsp70/Ssa1 has not been investigated. Amino-acid-sequence alignments suggest that Tah1 is most similar to the TPR2b domain of Hop (Hsp-organizing protein) which when mutated reduces binding to both Hsp90 and Hsp70. Our alignments suggest that there are three TPR-domain motifs in Tah1, which is consistent with the architecture of the TPR2b domain. In the present study we find that Tah1 is specific for Hsp90, and is able to bind tightly the yeast Hsp90, and the human Hsp90α and Hsp90β proteins, but not the yeast Hsp70 Ssa1 isoform. Tah1 acheives ligand discrimination by favourably binding the methionine residue in the conserved MEEVD motif (Hsp90) and positively discriminating against the first valine residue in the VEEVD motif (Ssa1). In the present study we also show that Tah1 can affect the ATPase activity of Hsp90, in common with some other TPR-domain proteins

Structural and functional basis of protein phosphatase 5 substrate specificity

The serine/threonine phosphatase protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) reg- ulates hormone- and stress-induced cellular signaling by association with the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). PP5- mediated dephosphorylation of the cochaperone Cdc37 is essential for activation of Hsp90-dependent kinases. However, the details of this mechanism remain unknown. We determined the crystal struc- ture of a Cdc37 phosphomimetic peptide bound to the catalytic domain of PP5. The structure reveals PP5 utilization of conserved elements of phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) structure to bind substrate and provides a template for many PPP–substrate interactions. Our data show that, despite a highly conserved structure, elements of substrate specificity are determined within the phosphatase catalytic domain itself. Structure-based mutations in vivo reveal that PP5-mediated dephosphorylation is required for kinase and steroid hormone receptor release from the chaperone complex. Finally, our data show that hyper- or hypoactivity of PP5 mutants increases Hsp90 binding to its inhibitor, suggesting a mechanism to enhance the efficacy of Hsp90 inhibitors by regulation of PP5 activity in tumors