The EMBO Journal
 
Advanced search
Journal home
Current issue
Advance Online Publication
Web Focuses
Archive
Browse by subject
Free online sample issue
Aims and scope
Press releases
ToC by email
Authors & Referees
Guide for authors
Submit an Article
Guide for referees
Editorial Team, Senior Advisors and Advisory Editorial Board
Contact Editorial office
Customer services
Subscribe
Order sample copy
Purchase articles
Reprints and permissions
Contact NPG
Advertising
EMBO
www.embo.org
Article
Subject Categories: Genome Stability & Dynamics | Structural Biology
The EMBO Journal (2006) 25, 3179–3190, doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7601209
Published online 22 June 2006
Trans-activation of the DNA-damage signalling protein kinase Chk2 by T-loop exchange
Antony W Oliver1, Angela Paul2, Katherine J Boxall3, S Elaine Barrie3, G Wynne Aherne3, Michelle D Garrett3, Sibylle Mittnacht2 and Laurence H Pearl1
1 Cancer Research UK DNA Repair Enzymes Group, Section of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Chelsea, London, UK
2 Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Chelsea, London, UK
3 Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Haddow Laboratories, Sutton, Surrey, UK

To whom correspondence should be addressed

Antony W Oliver, Cancer Research UK DNA Repair Enzymes Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6JB, UK. Tel.: +44 20 7153 5571; Fax: +44 20 6153 5457; E-mail: antony.oliver@icr.ac.uk
Laurence H Pearl, Cancer Research UK DNA Repair Enzymes Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6JB, UK. Tel.: +44 20 7153 5571; Fax: +44 20 6153 5457; E-mail: laurence.pearl@icr.ac.uk

Received 8 February 2006; Accepted 31 May 2006; Published online 22 June 2006.
Abstract
The protein kinase Chk2 (checkpoint kinase 2) is a major effector of the replication checkpoint. Chk2 activation is initiated by phosphorylation of Thr68, in the serine–glutamine/threonine–glutamine cluster domain (SCD), by ATM. The phosphorylated SCD-segment binds to the FHA domain of a second Chk2 molecule, promoting dimerisation of the protein and triggering phosphorylation of the activation segment/T-loop in the kinase domain. We have now determined the structure of the kinase domain of human Chk2 in complexes with ADP and a small-molecule inhibitor debromohymenialdisine. The structure reveals a remarkable dimeric arrangement in which T-loops are exchanged between protomers, to form an active kinase conformation in trans. Biochemical data suggest that this dimer is the biologically active state promoted by ATM-phosphorylation, and also suggests a mechanism for dimerisation-driven activation of Chk2 by trans-phosphorylation.
Keywords: cancer, CHEK2, CHK2, inhibitor, kinase
Send to a friendEmail link to a friend
PDFDownload PDF
Full textFull text
Next article
Previous article
Table of contents
rights and permissionsRights and permissions
order commercial reprintsReprints
ToC alertRegister for table of contents by email
  Privacy policy Copyright © 2006 by the European Molecular Biology Organization