Equilibrium unfolding of the PDZ domain of β2-syntrophin

b2-syntrophin, a dystrophin-associated protein, plays a pivotal role in insulin secretion by pancreatic b-cells. Itcontains a PDZ domain (b2S-PDZ) that, in complex with protein-tyrosine phosphatase ICA512, anchors the dense insulin gran-ules to actin filaments. The phosphorylation state of b2-syntro...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Torchio, Gabriela María, Ermacora, Mario Roberto, Sica, Mauricio Pablo
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2012
Country:Argentina
Institution:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repository:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/196602
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/196602
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:syntrophin
PDZ
unfolding
downhill
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Description
Summary:b2-syntrophin, a dystrophin-associated protein, plays a pivotal role in insulin secretion by pancreatic b-cells. Itcontains a PDZ domain (b2S-PDZ) that, in complex with protein-tyrosine phosphatase ICA512, anchors the dense insulin gran-ules to actin filaments. The phosphorylation state of b2-syntrophin allosterically regulates the affinity of b2S-PDZ for ICA512,and the disruption of the complex triggers the mobilization of the insulin granule stores. Here, we investigate the thermal unfold-ing of b2S-PDZ at different pH and urea concentrations. Our results indicate that, unlike other PDZ domains, b2S-PDZ is margin-ally stable. Thermal denaturation experiments show broad transitions and cold denaturation, and a two-state model fit revealsa significant unfolded fraction under physiological conditions. Furthermore, Tm and Tmax denaturant-dependent shifts andnoncoincidence of melting curves monitored at different wavelengths suggest that two-state and three-state models fail toexplain the equilibrium data properly and are in better agreement with a downhill scenario. Its higher stability at pH >9 andthe results of molecular dynamics simulations indicate that this behavior of b2S-PDZ might be related to its charge distribution.All together, our results suggest a link between the conformational plasticity of the native ensemble of this PDZ domain and theregulation of insulin secretion.