Two GxxxG-like motifs facilitate promiscuous interactions of the human ErbB transmembrane domains

J Mol Biol. 2009 May 29;389(1):10-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.04.002. Epub 2009 Apr 8.

Abstract

Members of the ErbB/HER family of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases cross a membrane with a single transmembrane (TM) helix. ErbB receptors form diverse homo- and heterodimers, which substantially increases the signaling potential of ErbB receptors. The involvement of the ErbB TM domains in homo- and heterodimerization is largely enigmatic. In this study, we experimentally analyzed the potential role of two conserved GxxxG-like motifs for mediating and/or stabilizing homo- and hetero-oligomeric interactions of the human ErbB TM domains. Both motifs appear to be critical for homo- and hetero-oligomeric TM helix interactions. Consequently, multiple TM structures are possible for the various ErbB homo- and heterodimers, which might be critical for the formation and TM signaling of specific ErbB pairs in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / chemistry*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases