The amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its neurotoxic cleavage product Aβ are key players in the development of Alzheimer's disease and appear essential for neuronal development and cell homeostasis in mammals. Proteolytic processing of APP is influenced by metal ions, protein ligands and its oligomerization state. However, the structural basis and functional mechanism of APP regulation are hitherto largely unknown. Here we identified a metal-dependent molecular switch located within the E2 domain of APP containing four evolutionary highly conserved histidine residues. Three X-ray structures of the metal-bound molecule were solved at 2.6-2.0 Å resolution. Using protein crystallographic and biochemical methods, we characterized this novel high-affinity binding site within the E2 domain that binds competitively to copper and zinc at physiological concentrations. Metal-specific coordination spheres induce large conformational changes and enforce distinct structural states, most likely regulating the physiological function of APP and its processing in Alzheimer's disease.
A sequence derived from the epithelial receptor tyrosine kinase Ros (pY2267) represents a high-affinity binding partner for protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 and was recently used as lead structure to analyze the recognition requirements for the enzyme's N-SH2 domain. Here, we focused on a set of peptides comprising C-terminally extended linear and conformationally constrained side chain-bridged cyclic N-SH2 ligands based on the consensus sequence LxpYhxh(h/b)(h/b) (x = any amino acid, h = hydrophobic, and b = basic residue). Furthermore, the bivalent peptides described were designed to modulate the activity of SHP-1 through binding to both, the N-SH2 domain as well as an independent binding site on the surface of the catalytic domain (PTP domain). Consistent with previous experimental findings, surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed dissociation constants of most compounds in the low micromolar range. One peptide, EGLNpYc[KVD]MFPAPEEE--NH(2), displayed favorable binding affinity, but reduced ability to stimulate SHP-1. Docking experiments revealed that the binding of this ligand occurs in binding mode I, recently described to lead to an inhibited activation of SHP-1. In summary, results presented in this study suggest that inhibitory N-SH2 ligands of SHP-1 may be obtained by designing bivalent compounds that associate with the N-SH2 domain and simultaneously occupy a specific binding site on the PTP domain.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.