Structural basis for the co-activation of protein kinase B by T-cell leukemia-1 (TCL1) family proto-oncoproteins

J Biol Chem. 2004 Aug 20;279(34):35890-902. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M400364200. Epub 2004 May 28.

Abstract

Chromosomal translocations leading to overexpression of p14(TCL1) and its homologue p13(MTCP1) are hallmarks of several human T-cell malignancies (1). p14(TCL1)/p13(MTCP1) co-activate protein kinase B (PKB, also named Akt) by binding to its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, suggesting that p14(TCL1)/p13(MTCP1) induce T-cell leukemia by promoting anti-apoptotic signals via PKB (2, 3). Here we combined fluorescence anisotropy, NMR, and small angle x-ray-scattering measurements to determine the affinities, molecular interfaces, and low resolution structure of the complex formed between PKBbeta-PH and p14(TCL1)/p13(MTCP1). We show that p14(TCL1)/p13(MTCP1) target PKB-PH at a site that has not yet been observed in PH-protein interactions. Located opposite the phospholipid binding pocket and distal from known protein-protein interaction sites on PH domains, the binding of dimeric TCL1 proteins to this site would allow the crosslinking of two PKB molecules at the cellular membrane in a preactivated conformation without disrupting certain PH-ligand interactions. Thus this interaction could serve to strengthen membrane association, promote trans-phosphorylation, hinder deactivation of PKB, and involve PKB in a multi-protein complex, explaining the array of known effects of TCL1. The binding sites on both proteins present attractive drug targets against leukemia caused by TCL1 proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • MTCP1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • TCL1A protein, human
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt