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Tim Clausen

Molecular mechanisms of protein quality control

All cells have evolved a sophisticated protein quality control system by which molecular chaperones and proteases monitor the functionality of each protein, thus reducing the amount of misfolded molecules that may undergo dangerous interactions. Our group performs a structure-function analysis of several eukaryotic and prokaryotic quality control factors with the purpose of disclosing novel strategies to combat protein-folding diseases and bacterial pathogenicity.

Proteolytic cascades mediating cell-cell signalling

Figure 1: Model for cooperative cleavage of 4FA by the signalling proteases 4B and CtpB. (A) Cartoon illustrating the allosteric regulation of CtpB. (B) The SpoIV proteolytic cascade transmits the sporulation signal from forespore to mother-cell. Our data indicate that the three participating proteases 4B, CtpB, and 4FB act sequentially in the RIP pathway (the respective active forms are shown in green).

Cellular differentiation is a process commonly associated with multi-cellular organisms and their development. However, differentiation into specialized cell types is also employed by a range of bacteria. One classic example is the endospore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis that can differentiate into dormant and stress-resistant spores to survive harsh environmental conditions. Spore formation in Bacillus subtilis relies on a regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) pathway that synchronizes mother-cell and forespore development.

To address the molecular basis of this SpoIV transmembrane signalling, we performed a structure-function analysis of the activating protease CtpB. Crystal structures reflecting distinct functional states show that CtpB constitutes a ring-like protein scaffold penetrated by two narrow tunnels. Access to the proteolytic sites sequestered within these tunnels is controlled by PDZ domains that rearrange upon substrate binding. Accordingly, CtpB resembles a minimal version of a self-compartmentalizing protease regulated by a unique allosteric mechanism. Moreover, biochemical analysis of the PDZ-gated channel combined with sporulation assays reveals that activation of the SpoIV RIP pathway is induced by the concerted activity of CtpB and a second signalling protease, SpoIVB.

This proteolytic mechanism is of broad relevance for cell-cell communication, illustrating how distinct signalling pathways can be integrated into a single RIP module. Depending on the origin of the signalling proteases, such a mechanism could coordinate either different transcriptional programs within a single cell or, when the signalling proteases are secreted from two neighbouring cells, link the RIP signal cascade to the cell-cell communication that coordinates developmental programs, among other aspects.

Phospho-arginine (pArg), a novel protein modification connected with bacterial stress response

Figure 2: Determinants of substrate specificity within the LMW-PTP family. Substrate selectivity against different phosphorylated residues is achieved by a two-step mechanism. First, phosphatases have evolved binding pockets of characteristic depth that reflect the size of their cognate substrates. Second, PAPs appear to have installed a polarity filter, Thr11, to detect the presence of the hydrophilic guanidinium group of the pArg substrate.

The reversible phosphorylation of proteins plays a critical role in regulating almost any cellular process. Although most studies analysing protein phosphorylation have been focused on pSer, pThr and pTyr, phosphorylation of His, Arg and Lys may constitute an equally important modification that appears to be underrepresented in the current literature. In 2008 we discovered that McsB of B. subtilis is a protein arginine kinase that phosphorylates and inhibits the stress-response repressor CtsR.

Last year we completed studies that led to the identification of a highly specific arginine phosphatase (YwlE) counteracting McsB. Structural and biochemical data of YwlE-substrate complexes disclosed a surprisingly simple polarity filter that is installed to distinguish pArg from other phospho-residues. A single active site residue, a threonine, is used to identify the phosphorylated guanidinium group and select pArg against pTyr, pSer and pThr. Based on these findings, we discovered a pArg phosphatase in Drosophila, but could not assess the biological relevance of pArg in eukaryotes.

On the contrary, we obtained preliminary evidence that in bacteria, pArg phosphorylation may serve as a degradation signal targeting substrates to the ClpCP protease. To address this point we plan to perform a detailed structural characterization of the McsB arginine kinase and its partner protein McsA. A crystal structure of the McsB kinase would be interesting for several reasons: a) it may delineate the molecular basis of how McsB marks specific stress-response factors for degradation, b) it may provide a detailed insight into an unprecedented protein phosphorylation mechanism, and c) it may facilitate the search for potential protein arginine kinases in eukaryotic cells.

Selected Publications

  • Schmidt, A., Trentini, DB., Spiess, S., Fuhrmann, J., Ammerer, G., Mechtler, K., Clausen, T. (2014). Quantitative phosphoproteomics reveals the role of protein arginine phosphorylation in the bacterial stress response. Mol Cell Proteomics. 13(2):537-50
  • Gazda, L., Pokrzywa, W., Hellerschmied, D., Löwe, T., Forné, I., Mueller-Planitz, F., Hoppe, T., Clausen, T. (2013). The myosin chaperone UNC-45 is organized in tandem modules to support myofilament formation in C. elegans. Cell. 152(1-2):183-95
  • Mastny, M., Heuck, A., Kurzbauer, R., Heiduk, A., Boisguerin, P., Volkmer, R., Ehrmann, M., Rodrigues, CD., Rudner, DZ., Clausen, T. (2013). CtpB assembles a gated protease tunnel regulating cell-cell signaling during spore formation in Bacillus subtilis. Cell. 155(3):647-58

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