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The FKBP12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP) is a CLIP-170 kinase

Jae H Choi1, Paula G Bertram, Ryan Drenan

  • 1Myriad Proteonomics, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT 84116, USA.

EMBO Reports
|September 17, 2002
PubMed

Insights

FKBP12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP) interacts with microtubule-associated protein CLIP-170, phosphorylating it at specific sites. This phosphorylation by FRAP positively regulates CLIP-170

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) like CLIP-170 are crucial for microtubule organization and function.
  • CLIP-170 is a phosphoprotein, and its phosphorylation status is believed to regulate its interaction with microtubules.
  • The specific kinases responsible for CLIP-170 phosphorylation remain largely unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between CLIP-170 and potential kinases.
  • To identify the kinase(s) involved in CLIP-170 phosphorylation.
  • To determine the functional consequence of CLIP-170 phosphorylation on its microtubule-binding activity.

Main Methods:

  • Co-immunoprecipitation assays to detect protein interactions.
  • In vitro kinase assays to assess phosphorylation activity.
  • In vivo phosphorylation studies using rapamycin treatment.
  • Microtubule binding assays.

Main Results:

  • FKBP12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP, also known as mTOR/RAFT) was found to interact with CLIP-170.
  • CLIP-170 undergoes phosphorylation at both rapamycin-sensitive and -insensitive sites in vivo.
  • FRAP phosphorylates CLIP-170 in vitro at rapamycin-sensitive sites.
  • Rapamycin treatment inhibited the microtubule-binding ability of CLIP-170.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple kinases regulate CLIP-170 activity through phosphorylation.
  • FRAP is identified as a kinase that positively regulates CLIP-170's interaction with microtubules.
  • Phosphorylation by FRAP is a key mechanism controlling CLIP-170's function in microtubule dynamics.

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