Structural basis for phosphorylation-triggered autophagic clearance of Salmonella

Biochem J. 2013 Sep 15;454(3):459-66. doi: 10.1042/BJ20121907.

Abstract

Selective autophagy is mediated by the interaction of autophagy modifiers and autophagy receptors that also bind to ubiquitinated cargo. Optineurin is an autophagy receptor that plays a role in the clearance of cytosolic Salmonella. The interaction between receptors and modifiers is often relatively weak, with typical values for the dissociation constant in the low micromolar range. The interaction of optineurin with autophagy modifiers is even weaker, but can be significantly enhanced through phosphorylation by the TBK1 {TANK [TRAF (tumour-necrosis-factor-receptor-associated factor)-associated nuclear factor κB activator]-binding kinase 1}. In the present study we describe the NMR and crystal structures of the autophagy modifier LC3B (microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 beta) in complex with the LC3 interaction region of optineurin either phosphorylated or bearing phospho-mimicking mutations. The structures show that the negative charge induced by phosphorylation is recognized by the side chains of Arg¹¹ and Lys⁵¹ in LC3B. Further mutational analysis suggests that the replacement of the canonical tryptophan residue side chain of autophagy receptors with the smaller phenylalanine side chain in optineurin significantly weakens its interaction with the autophagy modifier LC3B. Through phosphorylation of serine residues directly N-terminally located to the phenylalanine residue, the affinity is increased to the level normally seen for receptor-modifier interactions. Phosphorylation, therefore, acts as a switch for optineurin-based selective autophagy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Autophagy*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Salmonella / physiology*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIA / chemistry*
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIA / genetics

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • MAP1LC3B protein, human
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • OPTN protein, human
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIA

Associated data

  • PDB/2LUE
  • PDB/3VTU
  • PDB/3VTV
  • PDB/3VTW