Differential receptor binding and regulatory mechanisms for the lymphangiogenic growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D

VEGF-C and VEGF-D are secreted glycoproteins that induce angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cancer, thereby promoting tumor growth and spread. They exhibit structural homology and activate VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3, receptors on endothelial cells that signal for growth of blood vessels and lymphatics. VEGF-C and VEGF-D were thought to exhibit similar bioactivities, yet recent studies indicated distinct signaling mechanisms (e.g. tumor-derived VEGF-C promoted expression of the prostaglandin biosynthetic enzyme COX-2 in lymphatics, a response thought to facilitate metastasis via the lymphatic vasculature, whereas VEGF-D did not). Here we explore the basis of the distinct bioactivities of VEGF-D using a neutralizing antibody, peptide mapping, and mutagenesis to demonstrate that the N-terminal α-helix of mature VEGF-D (Phe(93)–Arg(108)) is critical for binding VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. Importantly, the N-terminal part of this α-helix, from Phe(93) to Thr(98), is required for binding VEGFR-3 but not VEGFR-2. Surprisingly, the corresponding part of the α-helix in mature VEGF-C did not influence binding to either VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3, indicating distinct determinants of receptor binding by these growth factors. A variant of mature VEGF-D harboring a mutation in the N-terminal α-helix, D103A, exhibited enhanced potency for activating VEGFR-3, was able to promote increased COX-2 mRNA levels in lymphatic endothelial cells, and had enhanced capacity to induce lymphatic sprouting in vivo. This mutant may be useful for developing protein-based therapeutics to drive lymphangiogenesis in clinical settings, such as lymphedema. Our studies shed light on the VEGF-D structure/function relationship and provide a basis for understanding functional differences compared with VEGF-C

Cation movement and phase transitions in KTP isostructures; X-ray study of sodium-doped KTP at 10.5 K

An accurate structure model of sodium-doped potassium titanyl phosphate, (Na0.114K0.886) K(TiO)(2)(PO4)(2), has been determined at 10.5 K by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In addition to the low-temperature data, X-ray intensities have been collected at room temperature. When the temperature was decreased from room temperature to 10.5 K, both potassium cations moved 0.033 (2) Angstrom along the c-axis, i.e. in the polar direction within the rigid Ti-O-P network. This alkaline metal ion displacement can be related to the Abrahams-Jamieson-Kurtz T-C criteria for oxygen framework ferroelectrics. Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) is a well known material for second harmonic generation (SHG), and the influence of sodium dopant on the TiO6 octahedral geometry and SHG is discussed. The material studied crystallizes in the space group Pna2(1) with Z = 4, a = 12.7919 (5), b = 6.3798 (4), c = 10.5880 (7) Angstrom, V = 864.08 (9) Angstrom(3), T = 10.5 (3) K and R = 0.023

Dopant positions in strontium/chromium- and barium-doped KTP, determined with synchrotron X-radiation

Structure factors for strontium/chromium- (Sr/Cr) and barium- (Ba) doped potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4, KTP) were measured with focused synchrotron X-radiation [0.75000 (9) Angstrom] using a fast avalanche photodiode counter. Space group Pna2(1), Z = 8,a = 12.786 (2), b = 6.3927 (8), c = 10.5585 (9) Angstrom, T = 293 (1) K, R = 0.028 (SrCrKTP); a = 12.851 (6), b = 6.418 (3), c = 10.620 (5) Angstrom, T = 120 (1) K, R = 0.031 (BaKTP). The refinement of the dopant positions showed that Ba2+ is positioned in the larger of the two K cavities of KTP, while the smaller Sr2+ ion is located in both. Split positions are found for the strontium dopant in both cavities and they are located in the positive c direction from the potassium cation. The chromium dopant has two different oxidation states, namely +III and +VI; in both states the dopant is located inside the TiO6 octahedra. The two structures show slightly less distorted TiO6 octahedra than pure KTP

Dopant positions in strontium/chromium- and barium-doped KTP, determined with synchrotron X-radiation

Structure factors for strontium/chromium- (Sr/Cr) and barium- (Ba) doped potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4, KTP) were measured with focused synchrotron X-radiation [0.75000 (9) Angstrom] using a fast avalanche photodiode counter. Space group Pna2(1), Z = 8,a = 12.786 (2), b = 6.3927 (8), c = 10.5585 (9) Angstrom, T = 293 (1) K, R = 0.028 (SrCrKTP); a = 12.851 (6), b = 6.418 (3), c = 10.620 (5) Angstrom, T = 120 (1) K, R = 0.031 (BaKTP). The refinement of the dopant positions showed that Ba2+ is positioned in the larger of the two K cavities of KTP, while the smaller Sr2+ ion is located in both. Split positions are found for the strontium dopant in both cavities and they are located in the positive c direction from the potassium cation. The chromium dopant has two different oxidation states, namely +III and +VI; in both states the dopant is located inside the TiO6 octahedra. The two structures show slightly less distorted TiO6 octahedra than pure KTP

Crystal Structure of the Amyloid- p3 Fragment Provides a Model for Oligomer Formation in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the presence of amyloid-␤ (A␤) peptide fibrillar plaques in the brain. However, current evidence suggests that soluble nonfibrillar A␤ oligomers may be the major drivers of A␤-mediated synaptic dysfunction. Structural information on these A␤ species has been very limited because of their noncrystalline and unstable nature. Here, we describe a crystal structure of amylogenic residues 18 -41 of the A␤ peptide (equivalent to the p3 ␣/␥-secretase fragment of amyloid precursor protein) presented within the CDR3 loop region of a shark Ig new antigen receptor (IgNAR) single variable domain antibody. The predominant oligomeric species is a tightly associated A␤ dimer, with paired dimers forming a tetramer in the crystal caged within four IgNAR domains, preventing uncontrolled amyloid formation. Our structure correlates with independently observed features of small nonfibrillar A␤ oligomers and reveals conserved elements consistent with residues and motifs predicted as critical in A␤ folding and oligomerization, thus potentially providing a model system for nonfibrillar oligomer formation in Alzheimer's disease