title: Molecular basis for G-actin binding to RPEL motifs from the serum response factor coactivator MAL.
abstract: Serum response factor transcriptional activity is controlled through interactions with regulatory cofactors such as the coactivator MAL/MRTF-A (myocardin-related transcription factor A). MAL is itself regulated in vivo by changes in cellular actin dynamics, which alter its interaction with G-actin. The G-actin-sensing mechanism of MAL/MRTF-A resides in its N-terminal domain, which consists of three tandem RPEL repeats. We describe the first molecular insights into RPEL function obtained from structures of two independent RPEL(MAL) peptide:G-actin complexes. Both RPEL peptides bind to the G-actin hydrophobic cleft and to subdomain 3. These RPEL(MAL):G-actin structures explain the sequence conservation defining the RPEL motif, including the invariant arginine. Characterisation of the RPEL(MAL):G-actin interaction by fluorescence anisotropy and cell reporter-based assays validates the significance of actin-binding residues for proper MAL localisation and regulation in vivo. We identify important differences in G-actin engagement between the two RPEL(MAL) structures. Comparison with other actin-binding proteins reveals an unexpected similarity to the vitamin-D-binding protein, extending the G-actin-binding protein repertoire.
authors.affiliation: Structural Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mouilleron
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guettler
authors.forename: Carola A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Treisman
authors.forename: Neil Q
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015534:Trans-Activators
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C431575:MRTFA protein, human; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D015534:Trans-Activators; D008156:Luciferases