Recognizing and defining true Ras binding domains I: biochemical analysis.

TitleRecognizing and defining true Ras binding domains I: biochemical analysis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsWohlgemuth S, Kiel C, Krämer A, Serrano L, Wittinghofer F, Herrmann C
JournalJ Mol Biol
Volume348
Issue3
Pagination741-58
Date Published2005 May 6
ISSN0022-2836
KeywordsAnimals, Calorimetry, Circular Dichroism, DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase, Epitopes, Humans, Models, Molecular, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins, ras Proteins, Spectrometry, Fluorescence, Thermodynamics
Abstract

Common domain databases contain sequence motifs which belong to the ubiquitin fold family and are called Ras binding (RB) and Ras association (RalGDS/AF6 Ras associating) (RA) domains. The name implies that they bind to Ras (or Ras-like) GTP-binding proteins, and a few of them have been documented to qualify as true Ras effectors, defined as binding only to the activated GTP-bound form of Ras. Here we have expressed a large number of these domains and investigated their interaction with Ras, Rap and M-Ras. While their (albeit weak) sequence homology suggest that the domains adopt a common fold, not all of them bind to Ras proteins, irrespective of whether they are called RB or RA domains. We used fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry to show that the binding affinities vary over a large range, and are usually specific for either Ras or Rap. Moreover, the specificity is dictated by a set of key residues in the interface. Stopped-flow kinetic analysis showed that the association rate constants determine the different affinities of effector binding, while the dissociation rate constants are in a similar range. Manual sequence analysis allowed us to define positively charged sequence epitopes in certain secondary structure elements of the ubiquitin fold (beta1, beta2 and alpha1) which are located at similar positions and comprise the hot spots of the binding interface. These residues are important to qualify an RA/RB domain as a true candidate Ras or Rap effector.

DOI10.1016/j.jmb.2005.02.048
Alternate JournalJ. Mol. Biol.
PubMed ID15826668