title: Mutation of three critical amino acids of the N-terminal domain of IGF-binding protein-3 essential for high affinity IGF binding.
abstract: The N-terminal domain is conserved in all members of the IGF-binding protein superfamily. Most recently, studies have demonstrated the importance of an IGF-binding protein N-terminal hydrophobic pocket for IGF binding. To examine more critically the amino acids important for IGF binding within the full-length IGF-binding protein-3 protein while minimizing changes in the tertiary structure, we targeted residues I56, L80, and L81 within the proposed hydrophobic pocket for mutation. With a single change at these sites to the nonconserved glycine there was a notable decrease in binding. A greater reduction was seen when both L80 and L81 were substituted with glycine, and complete loss of affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II occurred when all three targeted amino acids were changed to glycine. Furthermore, the ability of the IGF-binding protein-3 mutants to inhibit IGF-I-stimulated phosphorylation of its receptor was a reflection of their affinity for IGF, with the lowest affinity mutants having the least inhibitory effect. These studies, thus, support the hypothesis that an N-terminal hydrophobic pocket is the primary site of high affinity binding of IGF to IGF-binding protein-3. The mutants provide a tool for future studies directed at IGF-dependent and IGF-independent actions of IGF-binding protein-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201, USA. buckwayc@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Buckway
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahlsén
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites; D019556:COS Cells; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013002:Somatomedins; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1