title: Dependence of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) kinase activity on dimerization.
abstract: Dominant missense mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the most common known genetic cause of Parkinson disease. LRRK2 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase, and pathogenic mutations may increase kinase activity. Intrinsic GTP binding in the GTPase domain may govern kinase activity through an internal signal transduction cascade. As with many protein kinases, LRRK2 self-interacts through mechanisms that may regulate enzymatic activity. We find that the disruption of either GTPase or kinase activity enhances the formation of high molecular weight oligomers and prevents the formation of LRRK2 dimer structures. In addition, brief application of the broad spectrum kinase inhibitor staurosporine ablates LRRK2 dimers and promotes LRRK2 high molecular weight oligomers. LRRK2 interactions with other proteins in cell lines are kinase-independent and include chaperones and cell cytoskeleton components, suggesting that LRRK2 self-assembly principally dictates complex size. To further explore the mechanics of kinase activation, we separate soluble LRRK2 protein that encodes the pathogenic G2019S mutation into high molecular weight oligomers, dimers, and monomers and find that kinase activity resides with dimeric LRRK2. Some PD-associated mutations that increase kinase activity in vitro significantly increase the proportion of dimer structures relative to total LRRK2 protein, providing additional insight into how pathogenic mutations may alter normal enzymatic regulation. Targeting and tracking LRRK2 dimerization may provide a clear way to observe LRRK2 kinase activity in living cells, and disruption of dimeric LRRK2 through kinase inhibition or other means may attenuate pathogenic increases in LRRK2 enzymatic output.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294. Electronic address: abwest@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; C495280:LRRK2 protein, human; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019311:Staurosporine