GTP-binding protein regulators articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Structural and functional studies highlight the molecular regulation of assembling the mitochondrial division machinery. The core unit is closed, and specific interactions open this unit to facilitate assembly at the right place and time in cells.

    • Kristy Rochon
    • , Brianna L. Bauer
    •  & Jason A. Mears

  • Article
    | Open Access

    EPAC1 is a cAMP-activated guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rap GTPases and a major transducer of cAMP signaling. Here, the authors show anionic membranes can activate EPAC1 independently of cAMP, increase its affinity for cAMP by two orders of magnitude, and synergize with cAMP to yield maximal GEF activity.

    • Candice Sartre
    • , François Peurois
    •  & Jacqueline Cherfils

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Chemical libraries with skeleton diversity are important for drug discovery. Here, the authors establish a synthetic methodology-based compound library (SMBL), and apply it to identify a small-molecule inhibitor to interrupt a challenging target:  the protein–protein interaction (PPI) of GIT1/β-Pix.

    • Jing Gu
    • , Rui-Kun Peng
    •  & Qin Ouyang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Goudreault et al. investigate the role of Afadin downstream of RAS GTPases, substantiating this cell adhesion protein as a true RAS effector that couples its activation to cell polarity through the Scribble protein.

    • Marilyn Goudreault
    • , Valérie Gagné
    •  & Matthew J. Smith

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The orphan GPR158 receptor belongs to the class C GPCR family and interacts with the regulator of G protein signaling 7 (RGS7)-Gβ5 complex. Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structure of human GPR158, which reveals that the extracellular domain contains a PAS domain, and they also determine the structures of GPR158 in complex with either one or two RGS7-Gβ5 heterodimers and discuss implications for the signaling mechanism.

    • Eunyoung Jeong
    • , Yoojoong Kim
    •  & Yunje Cho

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The bacterial defense system McrBC is a two-component motor-driven nuclease complex that cleaves foreign DNA. Here, the authors present the structures of the GTP-specific AAA + motor protein McrB and two McrBC complexes and discuss the molecular mechanism of how McrC binding stimulates McrB GTP hydrolysis.

    • Yiming Niu
    • , Hiroshi Suzuki
    •  & Joshua S. Chappie

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ric8A regulates G protein α-subunits (Gα) by acting as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and a Gα chaperone. Here, the authors solve the crystal structures of free and Gα fragment bound Ric8A, and provide insights into the structural basis for Ric8A’s GEF and chaperone functions.

    • Dhiraj Srivastava
    • , Lokesh Gakhar
    •  & Nikolai O. Artemyev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During stress, protein synthesis is inhibited through phosphorylation of the initiation factor eIF2 on its alpha subunit and its interaction with eIF2B. Here the authors describe a structure of the yeast eIF2B in complex with its substrate - the GDP-bound phosphorylated eIF2, providing insights into how phosphorylation results in a tighter interaction with eIF2B.

    • Yuliya Gordiyenko
    • , José Luis Llácer
    •  & V. Ramakrishnan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Rab11 GTPases are involved in various cellular processes but their activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) is not fully understood. Here, the authors present a structural and biochemical analysis of Rab11 bound to the GEF SH3BP5, providing insights how Rab-GEF specificity is achieved.

    • Meredith L. Jenkins
    • , Jean Piero Margaria
    •  & John E. Burke

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The bacterial protease GtgE is involved in the establishment of Salmonellosis. Here the authors provide a structural and biochemical analysis of GtgE that sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of reprogramming infected host cells via site-specific proteolytic cleavage of the vesicular trafficking regulator Rab32.

    • Rudolf Wachtel
    • , Bastian Bräuning
    •  & Aymelt Itzen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The GTP-bound form of initiation factor 2 (IF2) promotes translation initiation by accelerating 50S ribosomal subunit joining the 30S ribosomal initiation complex (30S IC). Here the authors use single-molecule FRET and ensemble rapid kinetic methods to uncover the mechanism behind IF2-mediated subunit joining.

    • Kelvin Caban
    • , Michael Pavlov
    •  & Ruben L. Gonzalez Jr

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The guanine nucleotide exchange factor SOS is a critical intermediary that transduces receptor tyrosine kinase stimulation into Ras activation. Here the authors develop a single molecule assay in which SOS is captured from raw lysates using Ras-functionalized membrane microarrays and uncover an autoinhibitory mechanism of SOS regulation.

    • Young Kwang Lee
    • , Shalini T. Low-Nam
    •  & Jay T. Groves

  • Article
    | Open Access

    BRAG1 mutations are linked to synaptic deficits and X-chromosome linked intellectual disability. Here, the authors show that BRAG1 mediates activity-dependent removal of synaptic AMPA receptors via Arf-GEF activity and PDZ interactions, and is required for maintaining AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission.

    • Joshua C. Brown
    • , Amber Petersen
    •  & Nashaat Z. Gerges

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The molecular mechanisms of neurotrophin receptor trafficking are only partially understood. Here the authors show that ARHGAP33 interacts with SORT1 to regulate TrkB trafficking, the dysfunction of which impairs synapse development and leads to schizophrenia-related behavioural abnormalities in mice.

    • Takanobu Nakazawa
    • , Ryota Hashimoto
    •  & Masanobu Kano

  • Article |

    Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) arises from mutations in an activator of the small GTPase Rheb. Here the authors show that syntenin binds to GDP-bound Rheb, and loss of this interaction in TSC leads to increased syntenin expression and downstream signalling defects leading to aberrant spine synapse morphogenesis.

    • Hiroko Sugiura
    • , Shin Yasuda
    •  & Kanato Yamagata

  • Article |

    The processes that regulate melanoblast migration during development are also thought to be involved in melanoma metastasis. Here, Prex1 null mice are shown to have a melanoblast migration defect and, when crossed to a mouse model of melanoma, are resistant to metastasis, suggesting a role for Prex1 in metastatic melanoma.

    • Colin R. Lindsay
    • , Samuel Lawn
    •  & Owen J. Sansom

  • Article |

    Little is known about the regulation of mitofusin proteins that are involved in the fusion of mitochondrial membranes. In this study, the authors report that a heterotrimeric G protein, Gβ-subunit 2, can interact with mitofusin 1, and is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial fusion.

    • Juan Zhang
    • , Weihua Liu
    •  & Quan Chen

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