Evidence that HAX-1 is an interleukin-1 alpha N-terminal binding protein

During studies aimed at understanding the function of the N-terminal peptide of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 NTP, amino acids 1-112), which is liberated from the remainder of IL-1 alpha during intracellular processing, we identified by yeast two-hybrid analysis a putative interacting protein previously designated as HAX-1. In vitro binding studies and transient transfection experiments confirmed that HAX-1 can associate with the IL-1 NTP. HAX-1 was first identified as a protein that associates with HS1, a target of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases within haematopoietic cells. Recent data have also revealed interactions between HAX-1 and three disparate proteins, polycystin-2 (derived from the PKD2 gene), a protein linked to polycystic kidney disease, cortactin, and Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNA-LP). Sequence analysis of different HAX-1 binding domains revealed a putative consensus binding motif that is present in various intracellular proteins. Overlapping peptides comprising the IL-1 NTP were synthesized, and binding experiments revealed that discrete peptides were capable of interacting with HAX-1. HAX-1 may serve to retain the IL-1 NTP in the cytoplasm, and complex formation between the IL-1 NTP and HAX-1 may play a role in motility and/or adhesion of cells.