Regulation of RAF activity by 14-3-3 proteins: RAF kinases associate functionally with both homo- and heterodimeric forms of 14-3-3 proteins

J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan 30;284(5):3183-3194. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M804795200. Epub 2008 Dec 2.

Abstract

Mammalian 14-3-3 proteins play a crucial role in the activation process of RAF kinases. However, little is known about the selectivity of the mammalian 14-3-3 isoforms with respect to RAF association and activation. Using mass spectrometry, we analyzed the composition of the 14-3-3 isoforms attached to RAF kinases and found that B-RAF associates in vivo with 14-3-3 at much higher diversity than A- and C-RAF. We also examined in vitro binding of purified mammalian 14-3-3 proteins to RAF kinases using surface plasmon resonance techniques. While B- and C-RAF exhibited binding to all seven 14-3-3 isoforms, A-RAF bound with considerably lower affinities to epsilon, tau, and sigma 14-3-3. These findings indicate that 14-3-3 proteins associate with RAF isoforms in a pronounced isoform-specific manner. Because 14-3-3 proteins appear in dimeric forms, we addressed the question of whether both homo- and heterodimeric forms of 14-3-3 proteins participate in RAF signaling. For that purpose, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, possessing only two 14-3-3 isoforms (BMH1 and BMH2), served as testing system. By deletion of the single BMH2 gene, we found that both homo- and heterodimeric forms of 14-3-3 can participate in RAF activation. Furthermore, we show that A-, B-, and C-RAF activity is differentially regulated by its C-terminal and internal 14-3-3 binding domain. Finally, prohibitin, a scaffold protein that affects C-RAF activation in a stimulatory manner, proved to interfere with the internal 14-3-3 binding site in C-RAF. Together, our results shed more light on the complex mechanism of RAF activation, particularly with respect to activation steps that are mediated by 14-3-3 proteins and prohibitin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins / chemistry
  • 14-3-3 Proteins / metabolism
  • 14-3-3 Proteins / physiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • DNA Primers
  • Dimerization
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • raf Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Protein Isoforms
  • raf Kinases