Approximately 40 unique secreted ligands, divided into three subgroups (TGF?s, activins and BMPs) form the TGF?-superfamily whose function is to coordinate numerous cellular events. TGF?-family ligands are already being targeted therapeutically by blocking their interactions with receptors to alleviate human disorders such as cancer, fibrosis and muscle wasting disease. Naturally, ligands are regulated by either formation of an inactive covalent complex with their N-terminal propeptide that is cleaved during synthesis or by neutralization by one of a number of structurally-diverse extracellular antagonists. Binding of these molecules to ligands can range from very broad, where multiple ligands are antagonized by a single antagonist or very specific where one antagonist only recognizes a distinct ligand. While TGF?-family ligands are structurally similar, the molecular basis of how structurally-diverse antagonists selectively neutralize subsets of ligands remains unclear. Therefore, our long-term goal of this application is to elucidate mechanisms of specificity among the TGF?-family antagonists. This proposal will focus on the divergent ligand specificity among three activin-family antagonists: Follistatin (FST) (broad ligand specificity), Follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) (moderate specificity), and propeptides (exquisite specificity). Our central hypothesis is that antagonists differentially interact with conserved and nonconserved ligand surfaces to confer a range of specificity within the activin-family of ligands.
In Aim 1, we will determine how FST antagonists confer broad ligand antagonism through a combination of X-ray structure analysis of FST:ligand complexes and binding studies.
In Aim 2, we will determine how FSTL3 domain differences restrict binding to a few ligands, and in Aim 3, we will establish how the propeptide forms an inactive complex with the myostatin ligand. In all three aims, we will combine X-ray structure determination with competition and surface plasmon resonance binding experiments along with cellular-based assays to elucidate mechanisms of specificity for each antagonist. Elucidating details of the mechanisms that neutralize TGF?-family ligands will help in development of new strategies and optimize current therapies aimed at antagonizing ligands.

Public Health Relevance

Presently, TGF?-family ligands are being neutralized therapeutically to alleviate human disorders such as cancer, fibrosis and muscle wasting. Our research is significant as it is expected to provide details of binding molecules that antagonize ligands. This information will strengthen efforts to customize therapies designed to neutralize TGF?-family ligands.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM084186-05
Application #
8245799
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function C Study Section (MSFC)
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$305,873
Indirect Cost
$80,450
Name
University of Cincinnati
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041064767
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45221
Yilmaz, Atilgan; Kattamuri, Chandramohan; Ozdeslik, Rana N et al. (2016) MuSK is a BMP co-receptor that shapes BMP responses and calcium signaling in muscle cells. Sci Signal 9:ra87
Nolan, Kristof; Kattamuri, Chandramohan; Luedeke, David M et al. (2015) Structure of neuroblastoma suppressor of tumorigenicity 1 (NBL1): insights for the functional variability across bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists. J Biol Chem 290:4759-71
Rodgers, Buel D; Wiedeback, Benjamin D; Hoversten, Knut E et al. (2014) Myostatin stimulates, not inihibits, C2C12 myoblast proliferation. Endocrinology 155:670-5
Cash, Jennifer N; Angerman, Elizabeth B; Kirby, R Jason et al. (2013) Development of a small-molecule screening method for inhibitors of cellular response to myostatin and activin A. J Biomol Screen 18:837-44
Nolan, Kristof; Kattamuri, Chandramohan; Luedeke, David M et al. (2013) Structure of protein related to Dan and Cerberus: insights into the mechanism of bone morphogenetic protein antagonism. Structure 21:1417-29
Cash, Jennifer N; Angerman, Elizabeth B; Kattamuri, Chandramohan et al. (2012) Structure of myostatin·follistatin-like 3: N-terminal domains of follistatin-type molecules exhibit alternate modes of binding. J Biol Chem 287:1043-53
Kattamuri, Chandramohan; Luedeke, David M; Nolan, Kristof et al. (2012) Members of the DAN family are BMP antagonists that form highly stable noncovalent dimers. J Mol Biol 424:313-27
Zhang, Fuming; Beaudet, Julie M; Luedeke, David M et al. (2012) Analysis of the interaction between heparin and follistatin and heparin and follistatin-ligand complexes using surface plasmon resonance. Biochemistry 51:6797-803
Kattamuri, Chandramohan; Luedeke, David M; Thompson, Thomas B (2012) Expression and purification of recombinant protein related to DAN and cerberus (PRDC). Protein Expr Purif 82:389-95
Cash, Jennifer N; Angerman, Elizabeth B; Keutmann, Henry T et al. (2012) Characterization of follistatin-type domains and their contribution to myostatin and activin A antagonism. Mol Endocrinol 26:1167-78

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications