An intriguing shift occurs in the novel protein phosphatase 1 binding partner, TCTEX1D4: evidence of positive selection in a pika model

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 10;8(10):e77236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077236. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

T-complex testis expressed protein 1 domain containing 4 (TCTEX1D4) contains the canonical phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PPP1) binding motif, composed by the amino acid sequence RVSF. We identified and validated the binding of TCTEX1D4 to PPP1 and demonstrated that indeed this protein is a novel PPP1 interacting protein. Analyses of twenty-one mammalian species available in public databases and seven Lagomorpha sequences obtained in this work showed that the PPP1 binding motif 90RVSF93 is present in all of them and is flanked by a palindromic sequence, PLGS, except in three species of pikas (Ochotona princeps, O. dauurica and O. pusilla). Furthermore, for the Ochotona species an extra glycosylation site, motif 96NLS98, and the loss of the palindromic sequence were observed. Comparison with other lagomorphs suggests that this event happened before the Ochotona radiation. The dN/dS for the sequence region comprising the PPP1 binding motif and the flanking palindrome highly supports the hypothesis that for Ochotona species this region has been evolving under positive selection. In addition, mutational screening shows that the ability of pikas TCTEX1D4 to bind to PPP1 is maintained, although the PPP1 binding motif is disrupted, and the N- and C-terminal surrounding residues are also abrogated. These observations suggest pika as an ideal model to study novel PPP1 complexes regulatory mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Dyneins / chemistry*
  • Dyneins / genetics
  • Dyneins / metabolism*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Lagomorpha / genetics
  • Lagomorpha / metabolism*
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation
  • Protein Phosphatase 1 / metabolism*
  • Selection, Genetic*

Substances

  • Protein Phosphatase 1
  • Dyneins

Grants and funding

FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) supported the doctoral fellowship of Luis Korrodi-Gregório (SFRH/BD/41751/2007), Ana Margarida Lopes (SFRH/BD/78738/2011), Sara Luísa de Castro Esteves (SFRH/BD/42334/2007) and Ana Lemos de Matos (SFRH/BD/48566/2008) and post-doctoral fellowship of Pedro José Esteves (SPRH/BPD/27021/2006). This work was also supported by a FCT project (PTDC/BIABEC/103158/2008) and by the project "Genomics Applied to Genetic Resources," cofinanced by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme 2007/2013 (ON.2-O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework, through the European Regional Development Fund. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.