Structural basis of PP2A inhibition by small t antigen

PLoS Biol. 2007 Aug;5(8):e202. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050202.

Abstract

The SV40 small t antigen (ST) is a potent oncoprotein that perturbs the function of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). ST directly interacts with the PP2A scaffolding A subunit and alters PP2A activity by displacing regulatory B subunits from the A subunit. We have determined the crystal structure of full-length ST in complex with PP2A A subunit at 3.1 A resolution. ST consists of an N-terminal J domain and a C-terminal unique domain that contains two zinc-binding motifs. Both the J domain and second zinc-binding motif interact with the intra-HEAT-repeat loops of HEAT repeats 3-7 of the A subunit, which overlaps with the binding site of the PP2A B56 subunit. Intriguingly, the first zinc-binding motif is in a position that may allow it to directly interact with and inhibit the phosphatase activity of the PP2A catalytic C subunit. These observations provide a structural basis for understanding the oncogenic functions of ST.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral, Tumor / chemistry
  • Antigens, Viral, Tumor / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / chemistry*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism
  • Protein Subunits / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry*
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Simian virus 40 / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral, Tumor
  • Protein Subunits
  • Protein Phosphatase 2

Associated data

  • PDB/2PF4