X.Xu
et al.
(2013).
Structural basis for the unique heterodimeric assembly between cerebral cavernous malformation 3 and germinal center kinase III.
Structure,
21,
1059-1066.
PubMed id: 23665169
DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2013.04.007
Structural basis for the unique heterodimeric assembly between cerebral cavernous malformation 3 and germinal center kinase III.
X.Xu,
X.Wang,
Y.Zhang,
D.C.Wang,
J.Ding.
ABSTRACT
Defects in cerebral cavernous malformation protein CCM3 result in cerebral
cavernous malformation (CCM), a common vascular lesion of the human CNS. CCM3
functions as an adaptor protein that interacts with various signal proteins.
Among these partner proteins, germinal center kinase III (GCKIII) proteins have
attracted significant interest because GCKIII-CCM3 interactions play essential
roles in vascular physiology. Here, we report the crystal structures of CCM3 in
complex with the C-terminal regulatory domains of GCKIII (GCKIIIct) at 2.4 Å
resolution. Our results reveal that GCKIIIct adopts a fold closely resembling
that of the CCM3 N-terminal dimeric domain. GCKIIIct heterodimerizes with CCM3
in a manner analogous to CCM3 homodimerization. The remarkable structural
rearrangement of CCM3 induced by GCKIIIct binding and the ensuing interactions
within CCM3 are characterized as the structural determinants for GCKIIIct-CCM3
heterodimerization. Taken together, these findings provide a precise structural
basis for GCKIIIct-CCM3 heterodimerization and the functional performance of
GCKIII mediated by CCM3.