Insight into the structural mechanism of the bi-modal action of an NCAM mimetic, the C3 peptide.
C3, a synthetic peptide binding to the Ig1 module of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has previously been identified and shown to inhibit NCAM homophilic binding and NCAM-mediated activation of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR). However, C3 can also stimulate signalling on its own in a way similar to NCAM. Here we show that in the absence of NCAM, C3 can bind and activate FGFR, whereas in the presence of NCAM, C3 inhibits the NCAM-stimulated FGFR activation without activating FGFR on its own. Several competing models of FGFR activation by NCAM have been previously proposed. In one of them, the FGFR Ig2-Ig3 modules are involved in binding to NCAM, whereas in another - the FGFR "acid box" region mediates the interaction. The bi-modal effect of C3 can be explained in the context of the former model and is not consistent with the latter, thus providing evidence in support of the former model.
Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark. vkis@novonordisk.com
Vladislav V
VV
Kiselyov
Shizhong
S
Li
Vladimir
V
Berezin
Elisabeth
E
Bock
D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004330:Drosophila; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014162:Transfection
C471108:C3 synthetic NCAM-ligand; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C496348:FGFR1 protein, human; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1