title: The GTPase-activating protein Rap1GAP uses a catalytic asparagine.
abstract: Rap1 is a Ras-like guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (GNBP) that is involved in a variety of signal-transduction processes. It regulates integrin-mediated cell adhesion and might activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Like other Ras-like GNBPs, Rap1 is regulated by guanine-nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). These GAPs increase the slow intrinsic GTPase reaction of Ras-like GNBPs by many orders of magnitude and allow tight regulation of signalling. The activation mechanism involves stabilization of the catalytic glutamine of the GNBP and, in most cases, the insertion of a catalytic arginine of GAP into the active site. Rap1 is a close homologue of Ras but does not possess the catalytic glutamine essential for GTP hydrolysis in all other Ras-like and Galpha proteins. Furthermore, RapGAPs are not related to other GAPs and apparently do not use a catalytic arginine residue. Here we present the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of the Rap1-specific Rap1GAP at 2.9 A. By mutational analysis, fluorescence titration and stopped-flow kinetic assay, we demonstrate that Rap1GAP provides a catalytic asparagine to stimulate GTP hydrolysis. Implications for the disease tuberous sclerosis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Otto-Hahnstr. 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Daumke
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weyand
authors.forename: Partha P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.forename: Ingrid R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Vetter
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wittinghofer
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D001216:Asparagine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002384:Catalysis / Q000187:drug effects; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D000077005:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; C484658:RAP1GAP protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000077005:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D001216:Asparagine; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins; D005459:Fluorides; C032311:aluminum fluoride