Tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-dystroglycan at its WW domain binding motif, PPxY, recruits SH2 domain containing proteins

Biochemistry. 2001 Dec 4;40(48):14585-92. doi: 10.1021/bi011247r.

Abstract

beta-Dystroglycan is a ubiquitously expressed integral membrane protein that undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in an adhesion-dependent manner. However, it remains unknown whether tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-dystroglycan interacts with SH2 domain containing proteins. Here, we show that the tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-dystroglycan is constitutively elevated in v-Src transformed cells. We next reconstituted this phosphorylation event in vivo by transiently coexpressing wild-type c-Src with a fusion protein containing full-length beta-dystroglycan. Our results demonstrate that Src-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-dystroglycan is strictly dependent on the presence of a PPxY motif at its extreme C-terminus. In the nonphosphorylated state, this PPxY motif is normally recognized as a ligand by the WW domain; phosphorylation at this site blocks the binding of certain WW domain containing proteins. Using a GST fusion protein carrying the cytoplasmic tail of beta-dystroglycan, we identified five SH2 domain containing proteins that interact with beta-dystroglycan in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, including c-Src, Fyn, Csk, NCK, and SHC. We localized this binding activity to the PPxY motif by employing a panel of beta-dystroglycan-derived phosphopeptides. In addition, tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-dystroglycan in vivo resulted in the coimmunoprecipitation of the same SH2 domain containing proteins, and this binding event required the beta-dystroglycan C-terminal PPxY motif. We discuss the possibility that tyrosine phosphorylation of the PPxY motif within beta-dystroglycan may act as a regulatory switch to inhibit the binding of certain WW domain containing proteins, while recruiting SH2 domain containing proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Dystrophin / chemistry
  • Dystrophin / metabolism*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Intramolecular Transferases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Tyrosine / metabolism*
  • src Homology Domains*
  • src-Family Kinases

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Dystrophin
  • Nck protein
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Tyrosine
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • Fyn protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Intramolecular Transferases
  • squalene-hopene cyclase