Protein-Ligand Interactions and Allosteric Regulation of Activity in DREAM Protein

Authors

Walter G. Gonzalez, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Chemistry

First Advisor's Name

Jaroslava Miksovska

First Advisor's Committee Title

committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Stanislaw Wnuk

Second Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Prem Chapagain

Third Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Yuan Liu

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Fifth Advisor's Name

Xiaotang Wang

Fifth Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Keywords

DREAM, KChIP, EF-hand, CaBP, NS5806, Molecular Dynamics, Kv4.3, Calcium binding proteins, CaBP, Calcium, ITC, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, PBD, Photothermal beam Deflection

Date of Defense

3-23-2016

Abstract

Downstream regulatory antagonist modulator (DREAM) is a calcium sensing protein that co-assembles with K_V4 potassium channels to regulate ion currents as well as with DNA in the nucleus, where it regulates gene expression. The interaction of DREAM with A-type K_V4 channels and DNA has been shown to regulate neuronal signaling, pain sensing, and memory retention. The role of DREAM in modulation of pain, onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiac pacemaking has set this protein as a novel therapeutic target. Moreover, previous results have shown a Ca²⁺ dependent interaction between DREAM and K_V4/DNA involving surface contacts at the N-terminus of DREAM. However, the mechanisms by which Ca²⁺ binding at the C-terminus of DREAM induces structural changes at the C- and N-terminus remain unknown. Here, we present the use of biophysics and biochemistry techniques in order to map the interactions of DREAM and numerous small synthetic ligands as well as K_V channels. We further demonstrate that a highly conserved network of aromatic residues spanning the C- and N-terminus domains control protein dynamics and the pathways of signal transduction on DREAM. Using molecular dynamics simulations, site directed mutagenesis, and fluorescence spectroscopy we provide strong evidence in support of a highly dynamic mechanism of signal transduction and regulation. A set of aromatic amino acids including Trp169, Phe171, Tyr174, Phe218, Phe235, Phe219, and Phe252 are identified to form a dynamic network involved in propagation of Ca²⁺ induced structural changes. These amino acids form a hydrophobic network connecting the N- and C-terminus domains of DREAM and are well conserved in other neuronal calcium sensors. In addition, we show evidence in support of a mechanism in which Ca²⁺ signals are propagated towards the N-terminus and ultimately lead to the rearrangement of the inactive EF-hand 1. The observed structural motions provide a novel mechanism involved in control of the calcium dependent K_V4 and DNA binding. Altogether, we provide the first mechanism of intramolecular and intermolecular signal transduction in a Ca²⁺ binding protein of the neuronal calcium sensor family.

Identifier

FIDC000223

ORCID

orcid.org/0000-0003-1310-9323

Recommended Citation

Gonzalez, Walter G., "Protein-Ligand Interactions and Allosteric Regulation of Activity in DREAM Protein" (2016). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2503.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2503