title: Multiple modes of peptide recognition by the PTB domain of the cell fate determinant Numb.
abstract: The phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain of the cell fate determinant Numb is involved in the formation of multiple protein complexes in vivo and can bind a diverse array of peptide sequences in vitro. To investigate the structural basis for the promiscuous nature of this protein module, we have determined its solution structure by NMR in a complex with a peptide containing an NMSF sequence derived from the Numb-associated kinase (Nak). The Nak peptide was found to adopt a significantly different structure from that of a GPpY sequence-containing peptide previously determined. In contrast to the helical turn adopted by the GPpY peptide, the Nak peptide forms a beta-turn at the NMSF site followed by another turn near the C-terminus. The Numb PTB domain appears to recognize peptides that differ in both primary and secondary structures by engaging various amounts of the binding surface of the protein. Our results suggest a mechanism through which a single PTB domain might interact with multiple distinct target proteins to control a complex biological process such as asymmetric cell division.
authors.affiliation: Structural Biology and Biochemistry Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zwahlen
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pawson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Forman-Kay
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010455:Peptides; C060606:numb protein, Drosophila; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; C109770:Nak protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases