title: Homo- and heterodimerization of ROCO kinases: LRRK2 kinase inhibition by the LRRK2 ROCO fragment.
abstract: Mutations in the gene encoding leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of autosomal-dominant familial and late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 is a large multi-domain protein featuring a GTP-binding C-terminal of Ras of complex proteins (ROC) (ROCO) domain combination unique for the ROCO protein family, directly followed by a kinase domain. Dimerization is a well-established phenomenon among protein kinases. Here, we confirm LRRK2 self-interaction, and provide evidence for general homo- and heterodimerization potential among the ROCO kinase family (LRRK2, LRRK1, and death-associated protein kinase 1). The ROCO domain was critically, though not exclusively involved in dimerization, as a LRRK2 deletion mutant lacking the ROCO domain retained dimeric properties. GTP binding did not appear to influence ROCO(LRRK2) self-interaction. Interestingly, ROCO(LRRK2) fragments exerted an inhibitory effect on both wild-type and the elevated G2019S LRRK2 autophosphorylation activity. Insertion of PD mutations into ROCO(LRRK2) reduced self-interaction and led to a reduction of LRRK2 kinase inhibition. Collectively, these results suggest a functional link between ROCO interactions and kinase activity of wild-type and mutant LRRK2. Importantly, our finding of ROCO(LRRK2) fragment-mediated LRRK2 kinase inhibition offers a novel lead for drug design and thus might have important implications for new therapeutic avenues in PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Clinics Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rovelli
authors.forename: Wolfdieter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schall
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: Philipp J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kahle
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D064550:Death-Associated Protein Kinases; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D008055:Lipids / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011487:Protein Conformation; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C411955:FuGene; D008055:Lipids; C579096:DAPK1 protein, human; D064550:Death-Associated Protein Kinases; C495280:LRRK2 protein, human; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases