Identification of transmembrane protein 88 (TMEM88) as a dishevelled-binding protein

J Biol Chem. 2010 Dec 31;285(53):41549-56. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.193383. Epub 2010 Nov 2.

Abstract

Wnt signaling pathways are involved in embryonic development and adult tissue maintenance and have been implicated in tumorigenesis. Dishevelled (Dvl/Dsh) protein is one of key components in Wnt signaling and plays essential roles in regulating these pathways through protein-protein interactions. Identifying and characterizing Dvl-binding proteins are key steps toward understanding biological functions. Given that the tripeptide VWV (Val-Trp-Val) binds to the PDZ domain of Dvl, we searched publically available databases to identify proteins containing the VWV motif at the C terminus that could be novel Dvl-binding partners. On the basis of the cellular localization and expression patterns of the candidates, we selected for further study the TMEM88 (target protein transmembrane 88), a two-transmembrane-type protein. The interaction between the PDZ domain of Dvl and the C-terminal tail of TMEM88 was confirmed by using NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, in HEK293 cells, TMEM88 attenuated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling induced by Wnt-1 ligand in a dose-dependent manner, and TMEM88 knockdown by RNAi increased Wnt activity. In Xenopus, TMEM88 protein is sublocalized at the cell membrane and inhibits Wnt signaling induced by Xdsh but not β-catenin. In addition, TMEM88 protein inhibits the formation of a secondary axis normally induced by Xdsh. The findings suggest that TMEM88 plays a role in regulating Wnt signaling. Indeed, analysis of microarray data revealed that the expression of the Tmem88 gene was strongly correlated with that of Wnt signaling-related genes in embryonic mouse intestines. Together, we propose that TMEM88 associates with Dvl proteins and regulates Wnt signaling in a context-dependent manner.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt1 Protein / metabolism
  • Xenopus
  • Xenopus Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DVL1 protein, Xenopus
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • TMEM88 protein, human
  • TMEM88 protein, mouse
  • WNT1 protein, human
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • Wnt1 protein, mouse
  • Xenopus Proteins