title: Molecular and structural insight into proNGF engagement of p75NTR and sortilin.
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is initially synthesized as a precursor, proNGF, that is cleaved to release its C-terminal mature form. Recent studies suggested that proNGF is not an inactive precursor but acts as a signaling ligand distinct from its mature counterpart. proNGF and mature NGF initiate opposing biological responses by utilizing both distinct and shared receptor components. In this study, we carried out structural and biochemical characterization of proNGF interactions with p75NTR and sortilin. We crystallized proNGF complexed to p75NTR and present the structure at 3.75-A resolution. The structure reveals a 2:2 symmetric binding mode, as compared with the asymmetric structure of a previously reported crystal structure of mature NGF complexed to p75NTR and the 2:2 symmetric complex of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and p75NTR. Here, we discuss the possible origins and implications of the different stoichiometries. In the proNGF-p75NTR complex, the pro regions of proNGF are mostly disordered and two hairpin loops (loop 2) at the top of the NGF dimer have undergone conformational changes in comparison with mature NT structures, suggesting possible interactions with the propeptide. We further explored the binding characteristics of proNGF to sortilin using surface plasmon resonance and cell-based assays and determined that calcium ions promote the formation of a stable ternary complex of proNGF-sortilin-p75NTR. These results, together with those of previous structural and mechanistic studies of NT-receptor interactions, suggest the potential for distinct signaling activities through p75NTR mediated by different NT-induced conformational changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Taeho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torkin
authors.forename: Kenneth K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hempstead
authors.forename: K Christopher
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D055550:Protein Stability; D051381:Rats; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D000099183:Sortilin
chemical_list: D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D002118:Calcium; D008024:Ligands; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000099183:Sortilin; C489226:pro-nerve growth factor, mouse; C068313:Ngfr protein, rat