Cytokinin-induced structural adaptability of a Lupinus luteus PR-10 protein

FEBS J. 2009 Mar;276(6):1596-609. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.06892.x. Epub 2009 Feb 11.

Abstract

Plant pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins of class 10 are the only group among the 17 PR protein families that are intracellular and cytosolic. Sequence conservation and the wide distribution of PR-10 proteins throughout the plant kingdom are an indication of an indispensable function in plants, but their true biological role remains obscure. Crystal and solution structures for several homologues have shown a similar overall fold with a vast internal cavity which, together with structural similarities to the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer domain and cytokinin-specific binding proteins, strongly indicate a ligand-binding role for the PR-10 proteins. This article describes the structure of a complex between a classic PR-10 protein [Lupinus luteus (yellow lupine) PR-10 protein of subclass 2, LlPR-10.2B] and N,N'-diphenylurea, a synthetic cytokinin. Synthetic cytokinins have been shown in various bioassays to exhibit activity similar to that of natural cytokinins. The present 1.95 A resolution crystallographic model reveals four N,N'-diphenylurea molecules in the hydrophobic cavity of the protein and a degree of conformational changes accompanying ligand binding. The structural adaptability of LlPR-10.2B and its ability to bind different cytokinins suggest that this protein, and perhaps other PR-10 proteins as well, can act as a reservoir of cytokinin molecules in the aqueous environment of a plant cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cytokinins / pharmacology*
  • Lupinus / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Cytokinins
  • Plant Proteins