Project Details
Description
ABSTRACT
Protein phosphorylation plays a key role in numerous cellular processes through a dynamic balance between
protein kinases and phosphatases. In many disease conditions, this balance is inclined toward kinase
hyperactivation and/or phosphatase inactivation, which are highly related to changes of their posttranslational
modifications (PTMs). Being able to introduce multiple PTMs on such specific signaling enzymes in a
chemically well-defined manner is both impactful and transformative to understand cell signaling pathways and
the function of PTMs. In previous study, by employing protein semisynthesis methods to generate
homogenous protein kinase Akt forms as substrates or stoichiometrically phosphorylated at Ser473 as
calibration standards, we provided a detailed portrait of how mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2) but not mTORC1
can selectively recognize and phosphorylate Akt Ser473 to activate this key signaling kinase. In this proposal,
we continue to develop and utilize protein semisynthesis methods to elucidate the regulation of two key
signaling enzymes including protein kinase S6K1 and the heterotrimeric phosphatase PP2A by PTMs and
other allosteric mechanisms. S6K1 is a crucial downstream effector of mTORC1, and is critically regulated by
the phosphorylation of a cluster of Ser/Thr residues (Ser411, Ser418, Thr421 and Ser424) in the C-terminal
autoinhibitory domain (CTD). Yet how the CTD phosphorylation modulates S6K1 structure and function has
been poorly defined. The PP2A phosphatase heterotrimer is responsible to the vast majority Ser/Thr
phosphatase activity in eukaryotic cells, and its assembly has been linked to changes in the C-terminal PTMs
of the C subunit including Thr304 and Tyr307 phosphorylations and Leu309 methylation. However, the function
of these PTMs has yet to be fully characterized, and remain a great of interest in the field. It is also very little
known how PP2A recruits its substrates, limiting our understanding of PP2A-regulated signaling. We will
produce these two enzymes containing site-specific PTMs and their non-hydrolyzable analogs, and will
integrate kinetic assays, structural analysis, binding measurements, and cell-based studies to clarify the
structural and catalytic features. Moreover, we have developed a novel proximity crosslinking method using
nanobodies as proximity-directing agents for analyzing PP2A interactome in different cellular conditions in
response to various stimuli. Successful completion of this project will not only provide a detailed molecular
understanding of how these two signaling enzymes regulated by specific PTMs, but inspire novel therapeutic
strategies combat the diseases associated with their dysregulation.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 09/1/23 → 08/31/24 |
Funding
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $393,750.00
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