Objective Junctophilin-2(JPH2)is an essential structural protein that maintains junctional membrane complexes(JMCs)in cardiomyocytes by tethering the plasma membrane to the sarcoplasmic reticulum,thereby facilitating ...Objective Junctophilin-2(JPH2)is an essential structural protein that maintains junctional membrane complexes(JMCs)in cardiomyocytes by tethering the plasma membrane to the sarcoplasmic reticulum,thereby facilitating excitationcontraction(E-C)coupling.Mutations in JPH2 have been associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM),but the molecular mechanisms governing its membrane-binding properties and the functional relevance of its membrane occupation and recognition nexus(MORN)repeat motifs remain incompletely understood.This study aimed to elucidate the structural basis of JPH2 membrane association and its implications for HCM pathogenesis.Methods A recombinant N-terminal fragment of mouse JPH2(residues 1-440),encompassing the MORN repeats and an adjacent helical region,was purified under near-physiological buffer conditions.X-ray crystallography was employed to determine the structure of the JPH2 MORN-Helix domain.Sequence conservation analysis across species and junctophilin isoforms was performed to assess the evolutionary conservation of key structural features.Functional membrane-binding assays were conducted using liposome co-sedimentation and cell-based localization studies in COS7 and HeLa cells.In addition,site-directed mutagenesis targeting positively charged residues and known HCM-associated mutations,including R347C,was used to evaluate their effects on membrane interaction and subcellular localization.Results The crystal structure of the mouse JPH2 MORN-Helix domain was resolved at 2.6Å,revealing a compact,elongated architecture consisting of multiple tandem MORN motifs arranged in a curved configuration,forming a continuous hydrophobic core stabilized by alternating aromatic residues.A C-terminalα-helix further reinforced structural integrity.Conservation analysis identified the inner groove of the MORN array as a highly conserved surface,suggesting its role as a protein-binding interface.A flexible linker segment enriched in positively charged residues,located adjacent to the MORN motifs,was found to mediate direct electrostatic interactions with negatively charged phospholipid membranes.Functional assays demonstrated that mutation of these basic residues impaired membrane association,while the HCM-linked R347C mutation completely abolished membrane localization in cellular assays,despite preserving the overall MORN-Helix fold in structural modeling.Conclusion This study provides structural insight into the membrane-binding mechanism of the cardiomyocyte-specific protein JPH2,highlighting the dual roles of its MORN-Helix domain in membrane anchoring and protein interactions.The findings clarify the structural basis for membrane targeting via a positively charged linker and demonstrate that disruption of this interaction—such as that caused by the R347C mutation—likely contributes to HCM pathogenesis.These results not only enhance current understanding of JPH2 function in cardiac E-C coupling but also offer a structural framework for future investigations into the assembly and regulation of JMCs in both physiological and disease contexts.展开更多
文摘Objective Junctophilin-2(JPH2)is an essential structural protein that maintains junctional membrane complexes(JMCs)in cardiomyocytes by tethering the plasma membrane to the sarcoplasmic reticulum,thereby facilitating excitationcontraction(E-C)coupling.Mutations in JPH2 have been associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM),but the molecular mechanisms governing its membrane-binding properties and the functional relevance of its membrane occupation and recognition nexus(MORN)repeat motifs remain incompletely understood.This study aimed to elucidate the structural basis of JPH2 membrane association and its implications for HCM pathogenesis.Methods A recombinant N-terminal fragment of mouse JPH2(residues 1-440),encompassing the MORN repeats and an adjacent helical region,was purified under near-physiological buffer conditions.X-ray crystallography was employed to determine the structure of the JPH2 MORN-Helix domain.Sequence conservation analysis across species and junctophilin isoforms was performed to assess the evolutionary conservation of key structural features.Functional membrane-binding assays were conducted using liposome co-sedimentation and cell-based localization studies in COS7 and HeLa cells.In addition,site-directed mutagenesis targeting positively charged residues and known HCM-associated mutations,including R347C,was used to evaluate their effects on membrane interaction and subcellular localization.Results The crystal structure of the mouse JPH2 MORN-Helix domain was resolved at 2.6Å,revealing a compact,elongated architecture consisting of multiple tandem MORN motifs arranged in a curved configuration,forming a continuous hydrophobic core stabilized by alternating aromatic residues.A C-terminalα-helix further reinforced structural integrity.Conservation analysis identified the inner groove of the MORN array as a highly conserved surface,suggesting its role as a protein-binding interface.A flexible linker segment enriched in positively charged residues,located adjacent to the MORN motifs,was found to mediate direct electrostatic interactions with negatively charged phospholipid membranes.Functional assays demonstrated that mutation of these basic residues impaired membrane association,while the HCM-linked R347C mutation completely abolished membrane localization in cellular assays,despite preserving the overall MORN-Helix fold in structural modeling.Conclusion This study provides structural insight into the membrane-binding mechanism of the cardiomyocyte-specific protein JPH2,highlighting the dual roles of its MORN-Helix domain in membrane anchoring and protein interactions.The findings clarify the structural basis for membrane targeting via a positively charged linker and demonstrate that disruption of this interaction—such as that caused by the R347C mutation—likely contributes to HCM pathogenesis.These results not only enhance current understanding of JPH2 function in cardiac E-C coupling but also offer a structural framework for future investigations into the assembly and regulation of JMCs in both physiological and disease contexts.
基金Supported by National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,No.2014CB910200)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81370522 and No.31400647)+1 种基金Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(No.S2012010008170)Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(No.20120001120096)~~
文摘多重PDZ结构域蛋白1型(MUPP1)是一种存在于上皮细胞和神经细胞内含有13个PDZ结构域的重要支架蛋白.在上皮细胞中,MUPP1蛋白在紧密连接结构的形成和上皮细胞的极化过程中发挥重要作用.而在中枢神经系统中,MUPP1基因的1个提前终止突变导致了其最后12个PDZ结构域的缺失,以及严重的先天性脑积水.此外,MUPP1蛋白的表达水平与酒精依赖性和药物戒断的严重性也具有显著的相关性.因此,对MUPP1蛋白所含的PDZ结构域进行纯化和性质鉴定,将有助于深入研究MUPP1蛋白的功能和分子机制.在本文研究中,利用亲和纯化和分子筛技术,对大鼠来源的MUPP1蛋白的第8个PDZ结构域进行了表达和纯化.多角度激光光散射的数据表明:MUPP1-PDZ8结构域在溶液中为单体,分子量为16.4 k D.圆二色谱结果表明,MUPP1-PDZ8结构域具有较好的二级结构折叠,测得其熔解温度为71.6摄氏度,暗示该PDZ结构域在溶液中非常稳定.最后,MUPP1-PDZ8结构域的晶体结构显示,该结构域属于I型PDZ结构域,包含3个α螺旋和6个β折叠.其中GLGL模块、β折叠B上的1 351位亮氨酸,以及α螺旋B上的1 405位异亮氨酸/1 398位组氨酸形成的PDZ结合口袋,可以特异性地与其目标蛋白质的羧基末端相结合.综上所述,本文的研究提供了MUPP1-PDZ8结构域的生化特性,以及该结构域与其目标蛋白质相互作用的分子机制,这将为MUPP1蛋白的功能研究提供生物化学与结构生物学的理论基础.
基金Supported by Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(No.S2012010008170)Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(No.20120001120096)National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,No.2014CB910200)~~
基金Supported by National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,No.2014CB910200)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31400647)Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(No.20120001120096)
基金Supported by National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,No.2014CB910200)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31400647)Specialized Research Fund for Doctoral Program of Higher Education(No.20120001120096)
