The goal of this K02 proposal is to allow the Principal Investigator to understand cellular signaling mechanisms for vascular pattern formation in heart development, providing him with greater than 75% of time that he will devote to research over the next five years. Parallels between plexin signaling in the nervous system and in the developing cardiovascular system have only recently become clear. Plexins and associated proteins are involved in congenital heart defects (CHD), which remains a significant challenge to pre- and neonatal health care. Specifically the Principal Investigator will focus on elucidating similarities and differences in functional interactions of plexins-A1, -B1 and -D1 with small GTPases. He will try to identify novel, vasculature specific binding partners. The long term aim is to understand how similar mechanisms are used in different cells and cellular functions, and how signaling specificity arises from the details of the molecular interactions. This basic knowledge will eventually allow the design polypeptides or other agents that can be used to monitor and manipulate cell signaling events, diagnose and affect CHDs early via gene therapy. The complex formation between the small GTPase Rac1 (and homologous Rnd1 protein) and the cytoplasmic region of plexin-B1 is one of the first documented cases of a direct interaction between a small GTPase and a transmembrane receptor. A range of biophysical studies on the Rac1 binding cytoplasmic domain of plexin-B1 are funded by NIGMS R01 grant (GM073071). Stimulated by the new reports of plexins role in cardiovascular development, the Principal Investigator would like to expand the project to the characterization of the structure and function of plexin-A1 and -D1 receptors.
Specific aims of the K02 project are: 1) Characterization of the GTPase binding and regulatory domains in the cytoplasmic regions of plexin-A1 and -D1, including modeling or structure determination by NMR/X-ray. 2) Identification of other plexin-B1 and -D1 cytoplasmic domain binding proteins by yeast two hybrid screening and computational modeling. 3) Manipulation of GTPase binding affinity and specificity by use of site directed mutagenesis and computational modeling. As part of the K02 project new techniques will be introduced into an already interdisciplinary laboratory. The Principal Investigator will undergo additional training and interactions with cellular and cardiovascular biologists will be expanded.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02HL084384-05
Application #
7800441
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-O (F1))
Program Officer
Carlson, Drew E
Project Start
2006-04-06
Project End
2011-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$101,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
Zhang, Liqun; Bouguet-Bonnet, Sabine; Buck, Matthias (2012) Combining NMR and molecular dynamics studies for insights into the allostery of small GTPase-protein interactions. Methods Mol Biol 796:235-59
Wang, Hui; Hota, Prasanta K; Tong, Yufeng et al. (2011) Structural basis of Rnd1 binding to plexin Rho GTPase binding domains (RBDs). J Biol Chem 286:26093-106
Zerbetto, Mirco; Buck, Matthias; Meirovitch, Eva et al. (2011) Integrated computational approach to the analysis of NMR relaxation in proteins: application to ps-ns main chain 15N-1H and global dynamics of the Rho GTPase binding domain of plexin-B1. J Phys Chem B 115:376-88
Postow, Lisa; Woo, Eileen M; Chait, Brian T et al. (2009) Identification of SMARCAL1 as a component of the DNA damage response. J Biol Chem 284:35951-61
Hota, Prasanta K; Buck, Matthias (2009) Thermodynamic characterization of two homologous protein complexes: associations of the semaphorin receptor plexin-B1 RhoGTPase binding domain with Rnd1 and active Rac1. Protein Sci 18:1060-71
Hamaneh, Mehdi Bagheri; Buck, Matthias (2009) Refinement of the primary hydration shell model for molecular dynamics simulations of large proteins. J Comput Chem 30:2635-44
Tong, Yufeng; Hota, Prasanta K; Penachioni, Junia Y et al. (2009) Structure and function of the intracellular region of the plexin-b1 transmembrane receptor. J Biol Chem 284:35962-72
Bouguet-Bonnet, S; Buck, M (2008) Compensatory and long-range changes in picosecond-nanosecond main-chain dynamics upon complex formation: 15N relaxation analysis of the free and bound states of the ubiquitin-like domain of human plexin-B1 and the small GTPase Rac1. J Mol Biol 377:1474-87
Hamaneh, Mehdi Bagheri; Buck, Matthias (2008) Tripping a switch: PDZRhoGEF rgRGS-bound Galpha13. Structure 16:1439-41
Tong, Yufeng; Hota, Prasanta K; Hamaneh, Mehdi Bagheri et al. (2008) Insights into oncogenic mutations of plexin-B1 based on the solution structure of the Rho GTPase binding domain. Structure 16:246-58

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