Molecular analysis of the X11-mLin-2/CASK complex in brain

J Neurosci. 1999 Feb 15;19(4):1307-16. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.19-04-01307.1999.

Abstract

A heterotrimeric complex containing Lin-10/X11alpha, Lin-2/CASK, and Lin-7 is evolutionarily conserved from worms to mammals. In Caenorhabditis elegans, it localizes Let-23, a receptor tyrosine kinase, to the basolateral side of vulval epithelium, a step crucial for proper vulva development. In mammals, the complex may also participate in receptor targeting in neurons. Accordingly, phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) and postsynaptic density-95/Discs large/Zona Occludens-1 domains found in X11alpha and mLin-2/CASK bind to cell-surface proteins, including amyloid precursor protein, neurexins, and syndecans. In this paper, we have further analyzed the X11alpha-mLin-2/CASK association that is mediated by a novel protein-protein interaction. We show that the mLin-2/CASK calmodulin kinase II (CKII) domain directly binds to a 63 amino acids peptide located between the Munc-18-1 binding site and the PTB domain in X11alpha. Ca2+/calmodulin association with mLin-2/CASK does not modify the X11alpha-mLin-2 interaction. A region containing the mLin-2/CASK guanylate kinase domain also interacts with X11alpha but with a lower affinity than the CKII domain. Immunostaining of X11alpha in the brain shows that the protein is expressed in areas shown previously to be positive for mLin-2/CASK staining. Together, our data demonstrate that the X11alpha-mLin-2 complex contacts many partners, creating a macrocomplex suitable for receptor targeting at the neuronal plasma membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases*
  • Calmodulin / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • DNA
  • Guanylate Kinases
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase / metabolism*
  • Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Synapses / metabolism

Substances

  • APBA1 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Apba1 protein, rat
  • Calmodulin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phosphotyrosine
  • DNA
  • CASK kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase
  • Guanylate Kinases