The Structural Characterization of Tumor Fusion Genes and Proteins.
Chromosomal translocation, which generates fusion proteins in blood tumor or solid tumor, is considered as one of the major causes leading to cancer. Recent studies suggested that the disordered fragments in a fusion protein might contribute to its carcinogenicity. Here, we investigated the sequence feature near the breakpoints in the fusion partner genes, the structure features of breakpoints in fusion proteins, and the posttranslational modification preference in the fusion proteins. Results show that the breakpoints in the fusion partner genes have both sequence preference and structural preference. At the sequence level, nucleotide combination AG is preferred before the breakpoint and GG is preferred at the breakpoint. At the structural level, the breakpoints in the fusion proteins prefer to be located in the disordered regions. Further analysis suggests the phosphorylation sites at serine, threonine, and the methylation sites at arginine are enriched in disordered regions of the fusion proteins. Using EML4-ALK as an example, we further explained how the fusion protein leads to the protein disorder and contributes to its carcinogenicity. The sequence and structural features of the fusion proteins may help the scientific community to predict novel breakpoints in fusion genes and better understand the structure and function of fusion proteins.
Institute of Food Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
Dandan
D
Wang
Institute of Food Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
Daixi
D
Li
Shanghai Center for Bioinformation Technology, Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201203, China.
Guangrong
G
Qin
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
Wen
W
Zhang
Institute of Food Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
Jian
J
Ouyang
Shanghai Center for Bioinformation Technology, Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201203, China.
Menghuan
M
Zhang
Shanghai Center for Bioinformation Technology, Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201203, China.
Lu
L
Xie
D056905:Chromosome Breakpoints; D003198:Computer Simulation; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050596:Oncogene Fusion; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
C522504:EML4-ALK fusion protein, human; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion