First Author | Xie Q | Year | 2013 |
Journal | J Mol Biol | Volume | 425 |
Issue | 4 | Pages | 683-96 |
PubMed ID | 23219468 | Mgi Jnum | J:200235 |
Mgi Id | MGI:5507915 | Doi | 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.10.023 |
Citation | Xie Q, et al. (2013) Substrate recognition of PLCgamma1 via a specific docking surface on Itk. J Mol Biol 425(4):683-96 |
abstractText | Itk (interleukin-2 inducible T cell kinase) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase expressed primarily in T cells. Itk catalyzes phosphorylation on tyrosine residues within a number of its natural substrates, including the well-characterized Y783 of PLCgamma1. However, the molecular mechanisms Itk exploits to recognize its substrates are not completely understood. We have previously identified a specific docking interaction between the kinase domain of Itk and the C-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2C) domain of PLCgamma1 that promotes substrate specificity for this enzyme/substrate pair. In the current study, we identify and map the interaction surface on the Itk kinase domain as an acidic patch centered on the G helix. Mutation of the residues on and adjacent to the G helix within the Itk kinase domain impairs the catalytic efficacy of PLCgamma1 substrate phosphorylation by specifically altering the protein-protein interaction interface and not the inherent catalytic activity of Itk. NMR titration experiments using a Btk (Bruton's tyrosine kinase) kinase domain as a surrogate for the Itk kinase domain provide further support for an Itk/PLCgamma1 SH2C interaction surrounding the G helix of the kinase domain. The work presented here provides structural insight into how the Itk kinase uses the G helix to single out Y783 of PLCgamma1 for specific phosphorylation. Comparing these results to other well-characterized kinase/substrate systems suggests that the G helix is a general structural feature used by kinases for substrate recognition during signaling. |