Mapping the specific cytoprotective interaction of humanin with the pro-apoptotic protein bid

Chem Biol Drug Des. 2007 Nov;70(5):383-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2007.00576.x. Epub 2007 Oct 10.

Abstract

Humanin is a short endogenous peptide, which can provide protection from cell death through its association with various receptors, including the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins Bid, Bim, and Bax. By using NMR chemical shift mapping experiments, we demonstrate that the interaction between Humanin-derived peptides and Bid is specific, and we localize the binding site to a region on the surface of Bid, which includes residues from the conserved helical BH3 domain of the protein. The BH3 domain mediates the association of Bid with other Bcl-2 family members and is essential for the protein's cytotoxic activity. The data suggest that Humanin exerts its cytoprotective activity by engaging the Bid BH3 domain; this would hinder the association of Bid with other Bcl-2 family proteins, thereby mitigating its toxicity. The identification of a Humanin-specific binding site on the surface of Bid reinforces its importance as a direct modulator of programmed cell death, and suggests a strategy for the design of cytoprotective peptide inhibitors of Bid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / chemistry*
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / chemistry*
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Cell Death / physiology
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / chemistry*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BCL2L11 protein, human
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • humanin