A structural explanation for the recognition of tyrosine-based endocytotic signals

Science. 1998 Nov 13;282(5392):1327-32. doi: 10.1126/science.282.5392.1327.

Abstract

Many cell surface proteins are marked for endocytosis by a cytoplasmic sequence motif, tyrosine-X-X-(hydrophobic residue), that is recognized by the mu2 subunit of AP2 adaptors. Crystal structures of the internalization signal binding domain of mu2 complexed with the internalization signal peptides of epidermal growth factor receptor and the trans-Golgi network protein TGN38 have been determined at 2.7 angstrom resolution. The signal peptides adopted an extended conformation rather than the expected tight turn. Specificity was conferred by hydrophobic pockets that bind the tyrosine and leucine in the peptide. In the crystal, the protein forms dimers that could increase the strength and specificity of binding to dimeric receptors.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Protein Complex 1*
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 2
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 3*
  • Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits
  • Adaptor Protein Complex mu Subunits*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimerization
  • Endocytosis*
  • ErbB Receptors / chemistry*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Glycoproteins*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Sorting Signals / chemistry*
  • Protein Sorting Signals / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Tyrosine / chemistry
  • Tyrosine / metabolism

Substances

  • AP1M2 protein, human
  • AP3M2 protein, human
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 1
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 2
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 3
  • Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits
  • Adaptor Protein Complex mu Subunits
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • TGOLN2 protein, human
  • adaptor protein complex 1, mu 2 subunit
  • adaptor protein complex 2, mu 2 subunit
  • Tyrosine
  • ErbB Receptors