Structures of human protein tyrosine phosphatase variants reveal targetable allosteric sites

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator of leptin signaling whose disruption protects against diet-induced obesity in mice. We investigated whether structural characterization of human PTP1B variant proteins might reveal allosteric sites to target for weight loss therapy. To do so, we selected 12 rare variants for functional characterization from exomes from 997 people with persistent thinness and 200,000 people from the UK Biobank. Seven of 12 variants impaired PTP1B function by increasing leptin-stimulated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation in human cells. Focusing on the variants in and near the ordered catalytic domain, we ascribed structural mechanisms to their functional effects using in vitro enzyme activity assays, room-temperature X-ray crystallography, and local hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. By combining these complementary structural biology experiments for multiple variants, we characterize an inherent allosteric network in PTP1B that differs from previously reported allosteric inhibitor-driven mechanisms mediated by catalytic loop motions. The most functionally impactful variant sites map to highly ligandable surface sites, suggesting untapped opportunities for allosteric drug design. Overall, these studies can inform the targeted design of allosteric PTP1B inhibitors for the treatment of obesity.