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Selective binding of activated pp60c-src by an immobilized synthetic phosphopeptide modeled on the carboxyl terminus

R R Roussel1, S R Brodeur, D Shalloway

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.

Insights

Phosphorylation of pp60c-src at Tyr-527 suppresses its activity by binding to the SH2 domain. This study provides direct evidence for this interaction, crucial for understanding c-src protein regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The c-src protooncogene product, pp60c-src, is a tyrosine kinase regulated by phosphorylation.
  • Phosphorylation at Tyr-527 is known to suppress kinase activity and transforming potential.
  • It is hypothesized that this phosphorylated C-terminus interacts with the SH2 domain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between the phosphorylated C-terminus of pp60c-src and its SH2 domain.
  • To provide direct evidence for the proposed inhibitory mechanism of pp60c-src activity.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated peptides representing the C-terminus of pp60c-src.
  • Affinity binding assays using immobilized peptides and various src protein mutants.
  • Enzyme activity assays to assess the effect of peptides on kinase phosphorylation.

Main Results:

  • A highly transforming mutant, pp60c-src(F527), bound to the phosphorylated peptide, with binding abolished by SH2 domain deletion.
  • The phosphorylated peptide also bound pp60v-src and inhibited pp60c-src(F527) phosphorylation in kinase assays.
  • Binding to the nonphosphorylated peptide was minimal, and normal pp60c-src showed less efficient binding than the mutant.

Conclusions:

  • Direct evidence supports the model where the phosphorylated C-terminus of pp60c-src binds to the SH2 domain.
  • This interaction likely mediates the suppression of tyrosine kinase activity and transforming potential.
  • The findings are crucial for understanding the regulation of c-src family kinases.

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