Asymmetric Modulation of Protein Order-Disorder Transitions by Phosphorylation and Partner Binding

As for many intrinsically disordered proteins, order-disorder transitions in the N-terminal oligomerization domain of the multifunctional nucleolar protein nucleophosmin (Npm-N) are central to its function, with phosphorylation and partner binding acting as regulatory switches. However, the mechanism of this transition and its regulation remain poorly understood. In this study, single-molecule and ensemble experiments revealed pathways with alternative sequences of folding and assembly steps for Npm-N. Pathways could be switched by altering the ionic strength. Phosphorylation resulted in pathway-specific effects, and decoupled folding and assembly steps to facilitate disorder. Conversely, binding to a physiological partner locked Npm-N in ordered pentamers and counteracted the effects of phosphorylation. The mechanistic plasticity found in the Npm-N order-disorder transition enabled a complex interplay of phosphorylation and partner-binding steps to modulate its folding landscape.