Global conformational rearrangements during the activation of the GDP/GTP exchange factor Vav3

Óscar Llorca, Ernesto Arias-Palomo, José L. Zugaza, Xosé R. Bustelo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Activation of Rho/Rac GTPases during cell signaling requires the participation of GDP/GTP exchange factors of the Dbl family. Although the structure of the catalytic core of Dbl proteins has been established recently, the molecular changes that the full-length proteins experience during normal or oncogenic conditions of stimulation are still unknown. Here, we have used single-particle electron microscopy to solve the structures of the inactive (unphosphorylated), active (phosphorylated), and constitutively active (N-terminally deleted) versions of the exchange factor Vav3. Comparison of these forms has revealed the interdomain interactions maintaining the inactive Vav3 state and the dynamic changes that the overall Vav3 structure undergoes upon tyrosine phosphorylation. We have also found that the conformations of phosphorylated Vav3 and N-terminally deleted Vav3 are distinct, indicating that the acquisition of constitutive activity by exchange factors is structurally more complex than the mere elimination of inhibitory interactions between structural domains.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1330-1340
Number of pages11
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume24
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 6 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Electron microscopy
  • GDP-GTP exchange factors
  • Rac
  • Vav

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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