Decoding the structure WWP2 in the TGFβ signalling pathway

Wahl, Lloyd (2016) Decoding the structure WWP2 in the TGFβ signalling pathway. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

Preview

PDF Download (13MB) | Preview

Abstract

Abstract
The secret to the specificity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system lies in the protein-protein
interaction domains of the diverse group of E3 enzymes. WWP2 is one such E3 enzyme,
and the relevant protein-protein interaction domain is the WW domain. WWP2 has four
WW domains which are used to interact with proline-rich motifs found in the sequences
of the Smad signalling proteins that propagate or inhibit the TGFβ pathway, and in so
doing, allows WWP2 to regulate its Smad targets. WWP2 has three isoforms that are
known to participate in regulation of TGFβ signalling, but, even amongst isoforms of the
same E3, they exhibit different specificities for components of the pathway. The reason
for this is unknown, but it is likely to be due to the different domain composition of
WWP2, since each of the isoforms has a different combination of WW domains.
The aim of this thesis is to investigate the structure of the domains of WWP2, and to
explore how this relates to the selectivity of different isoforms in the TGFβ pathway.
Overexpression of recombinant WWP2 domains in a bacterial host, and affinity and sizeexclusion
chromatography have been used to produce pure, high concentration protein
samples. Both NMR spectroscopy and crystallography have been used in an attempt to
elucidate the structure of WWP2 domains. NMR spectroscopy, the more successful of the
two approaches, has allowed the elucidation of the structure of the fourth WW domain
of WWP2. By observing ligand interaction using NMR, the binding site of WW4 is revealed
and the substrate preference of WW4 and WW3 domains is observed on a molecular
level. Evidence of phospho-regulation of substrate selectivity is presented, and a
structural basis for this selectivity is proposed. In addition, a further layer of complexity is
added to the WWP2 isoform-mediated regulation of the TGFβ signalling pathway, as a
new isoform is discovered.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User:	Users 7376 not found.
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2016 13:09
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2016 13:09
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/59404
DOI:

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item