Structural Analysis of the ESCRT-III Regulator Lethal(2) Giant Discs/Coiled-Coil and C2 Domain-Containing Protein 1...

Members of the LGD/CC2D1 protein family contain repeats of the family-defining DM14 domains. Via this domain, they interact with members of the CHMP family, which are essential for the ESCRT machinery-mediated formation of intraluminal vesicles during endosome maturation. Here, we investigate the requirement of the DM14 domains for the function of Lgd in detail. We found that although both odd-numbered DM14s can act in a functionally redundant manner, the redundancy is not complete and both contribute to the full function of Lgd. Our analysis indicates that some of the AAs that form the KARRxxR motif of the onDM14s are not exchangeable by similarly charged AAs without loss of function, indicating that they not only provide charge, but also fulfil structural roles. Furthermore, we show that the region of Lgd between DM14-4 and the C2 domain as well as its C-terminal region to the C2 domain are important for protein stability/function. Moreover, we analysed the importance of AAs that are conserved in all DM14 domains. Finally, our analysis of the C. elegans ortholog of Lgd revealed that it has only one DM14 domain that is functionally equivalent to the onDM14s. Altogether, the results further the understanding of how Lgd family members regulate the ESCRT machinery.