Abstract
The products of genes that cause cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2, and CCM3) physically interact. CCM1/KRIT1 links this complex to endothelial cell (EC) junctions and maintains junctional integrity in part by inhibiting RhoA. Heart of glass (HEG1), a transmembrane protein, associates with KRIT1. In this paper, we show that the KRIT1 band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, and moesin (FERM) domain bound the HEG1 C terminus (K(d) = 1.2 µM) and solved the structure of this assembly. The KRIT1 F1 and F3 subdomain interface formed a hydrophobic groove that binds HEG1(Tyr(1,380)-Phe(1,381)), thus defining a new mode of FERM domain-membrane protein interaction. This structure enabled design of KRIT1(L717,721A), which exhibited a >100-fold reduction in HEG1 affinity. Although well folded and expressed, KRIT1(L717,721A) failed to target to EC junctions or complement the effects of KRIT1 depletion on zebrafish cardiovascular development or Rho kinase activation in EC. These data establish that this novel FERM-membrane protein interaction anchors CCM1/KRIT1 at EC junctions to support cardiovascular development.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cardiovascular System / embryology
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Cardiovascular System / metabolism
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Cardiovascular System / pathology
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Cells, Cultured
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Disease Models, Animal
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Endothelial Cells / chemistry
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Endothelial Cells / enzymology
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Endothelial Cells / metabolism
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Endothelial Cells / pathology
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HEK293 Cells
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Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / metabolism*
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Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / pathology*
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Humans
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Intercellular Junctions / chemistry*
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Intercellular Junctions / enzymology
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Intercellular Junctions / metabolism*
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Intercellular Junctions / pathology
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KRIT1 Protein
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Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
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Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / chemistry
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / deficiency
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
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Models, Molecular
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Protein Conformation
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Signal Transduction
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Zebrafish
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Zebrafish Proteins / chemistry
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Zebrafish Proteins / deficiency
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Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
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rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
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rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism
Substances
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KRIT1 Protein
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KRIT1 protein, human
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Zebrafish Proteins
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heg1 protein, zebrafish
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rho-Associated Kinases