Grb10 (Growth factor Receptor-Binding protein) is a member of a family of adapter proteins (Grb7 and Grb14) that interacts with tyrosine kinases. [1]
Dimerization of the Grb10 SH2 Domain
The crystal structure of Grb10 SH2 domain (molecular mass = 12.4 kDa) was an important step to understanding how this protein interacts with IGF1 receptors, and although the SH2 domain functions as an independent segment, it forms a dimer in physiological environments. [1] The dimer interface exists due to the middle hydrophobic Phe515 and uncharged Thr504 (labeled blue) residues packed into its equivalent counter parter on the other protomer, designated as Phe515' and Thr504' (labeled red); Gln511 (blue) forms a hydrogen bond to the backbone of Asp514' (red) while the side chain of Asn519 forms two hydrogen bonds to the backbone of Lys505'. [1] The interface ends with Leu518 and Phe-496' via hydrophobic interactions. [1]. The structure of Grb10 SH2 forms similar SH2 domains found in other proteins, which have an alpha helix on the outsides with anti-parallel beta sheets.
To ensure the crystallographic structure of Grb10 SH2 is indeed a dimer in solution, Evan Stein and colleagues substituted Phe515 at the dimer interface with arginine (electrically charged side chain) and found, using gel filtration chromatography (Picture 1), that the Grb10 SH2 dimer had indeed become independent monomers.
Picture 1
Picture 1
The gel used for filtration chromatography had 5 lanes with 5 different components:
As seen in lanes 1 and 2, the BPS-SH2 proteins did not travel down the gel due to their high pI; to resolve this issue, the researchers added IRK_3P to the two BPS-SH2 proteins which then made a complex that was mobile. [1] Lane 4 shows a band labeled 2:2 complex that shows the position of the SH2 dimer. The additional band found at the very top of lane 4 represents the BPS-SH2_WT protein that did not complex with high motility protein IRK_3P, i.e. it was not able to migrate through the gel due to its high pI. Lane 5 shows a band labeled 1:1 complex elucidating that the Arg substitution at Phe515 did indeed produce a monomer, which was able to travel farther down the gel.
Why BPS-SH2?
In order for the full-length Grb10 protein to interact with Insulin Receptor Kinase (IRK), the SH2 and BPS domain must be present. [2]
↑ 1.01.11.21.31.4Stein EG, Ghirlando R, Hubbard SR. Structural basis for dimerization of the Grb10 Src homology 2 domain. Implications for ligand specificity. J Biol Chem. 2003 Apr 11;278(15):13257-64. Epub 2003 Jan 27. PMID:12551896 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M212026200
↑He W, Rose DW, Olefsky JM, Gustafson TA. Grb10 interacts differentially with the insulin receptor, insulin-like growth factor I receptor, and epidermal growth factor receptor via the Grb10 Src homology 2 (SH2) domain and a second novel domain located between the pleckstrin homology and SH2 domains. J Biol Chem. 1998 Mar 20;273(12):6860-7. PMID:9506989
Interaction Between Grb10 and E3 Ubiquitin Ligase NEDD4
Crystal structure of the Nedd4 C2/Grb10 SH2 complex PDB entry 3M7F)
