title: Solution structure of the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor complex Lhx3/Ldb1 and the effects of a pituitary mutation on key Lhx3 interactions.
abstract: Lhx3 is a LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD) transcription factor that regulates neural cell subtype specification and pituitary development in vertebrates, and mutations in this protein cause combined pituitary hormone deficiency syndrome (CPHDS). The recently published structures of Lhx3 in complex with each of two key protein partners, Isl1 and Ldb1, provide an opportunity to understand the effect of mutations and posttranslational modifications on key protein-protein interactions. Here, we use small-angle X-ray scattering of an Ldb1-Lhx3 complex to confirm that in solution the protein is well represented by our previously determined NMR structure as an ensemble of conformers each comprising two well-defined halves (each made up of LIM domain from Lhx3 and the corresponding binding motif in Ldb1) with some flexibility between the two halves. NMR analysis of an Lhx3 mutant that causes CPHDS, Lhx3(Y114C), shows that the mutation does not alter the zinc-ligation properties of Lhx3, but appears to cause a structural rearrangement of the hydrophobic core of the LIM2 domain of Lhx3 that destabilises the domain and/or reduces the affinity of Lhx3 for both Ldb1 and Isl1. Thus the mutation would affect the formation of Lhx3-containing transcription factor complexes, particularly in the pituitary gland where these complexes are required for the production of multiple pituitary cell types and hormones.
authors: School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Mugdha
authors: M
authors: Bhati
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Lee
authors: Morgan S
authors: MS
authors: Gadd
authors: Cy M
authors: CM
authors: Jeffries
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Kwan
authors: Andrew E
authors: AE
authors: Whitten
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Trewhella
authors: Joel P
authors: JP
authors: Mackay
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: Matthews
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; C102084:Ldb1 protein, mouse; C094898:Lhx3 protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1