SHP2-EGFR States in Dephosphorylation Can Inform Selective SHP2 Inhibitors, Dampening RasGAP Action

J Phys Chem B. 2024 May 30;128(21):5175-5187. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00873. Epub 2024 May 15.

Abstract

SHP2 is a positive regulator of the EGFR-dependent Ras/MAPK pathway. It dephosphorylates a regulatory phosphorylation site in EGFR that serves as the binding site to RasGAP (RASA1 or p120RasGAP). RASA1 is activated by binding to the EGFR phosphate group. Active RASA1 deactivates Ras by hydrolyzing Ras-bound GTP to GDP. Thus, SHP2 dephosphorylation of EGFR effectively prevents RASA1-mediated deactivation of Ras, thereby stimulating proliferation. Despite knowledge of this vital regulation in cell life, mechanistic in-depth structural understanding of the involvement of SHP2, EGFR, and RASA1 in the Ras/MAPK pathway has largely remained elusive. Here we elucidate the interactions, the factors influencing EGFR's recruitment of RASA1, and SHP2's recognition of the substrate site in EGFR. We reveal that RASA1 specifically interacts with the DEpY992LIP motif in EGFR featuring a proline residue at the +3 position C-terminal to pY primarily through its nSH2 domain. This interaction is strengthened by the robust attraction of two acidic residues, E991 and D990, of EGFR to two basic residues in the BC-loop near the pY-binding pocket of RASA1's nSH2. In the stable precatalytic state of SHP2 with EGFR (DADEpY992LIPQ), the E-loop of SHP2's active site favors the interaction with the (-2)-position D990 and (-4)-position D988 N-terminal to pY992 in EGFR, while the pY-loop constrains the (+4)-position Q996 C-terminal to pY992. These specific interactions not only provide a structural basis for identifying negative regulatory sites in other RTKs but can inform selective, high-affinity active-site SHP2 inhibitors tailored for SHP2 mutants.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • ErbB Receptors* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors* / chemistry
  • ErbB Receptors* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11* / chemistry
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11* / metabolism
  • p120 GTPase Activating Protein* / chemistry
  • p120 GTPase Activating Protein* / metabolism

Substances

  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11
  • ErbB Receptors
  • p120 GTPase Activating Protein
  • EGFR protein, human
  • PTPN11 protein, human
  • RASA1 protein, human
  • Enzyme Inhibitors