Journal Article

FZJ-2014-06727

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Alternative Conformations of the Tau Repeat Domain in Complex with an Engineered Binding Protein

Gruning, C. S. R. ; Mirecka, E. A. ; Klein, A. N.FZJ* ; Mandelkow, E. ; Willbold, D.FZJ* ; Marino, S. F. ; Stoldt, M.FZJ* ; Hoyer, W. (Corresponding Author)FZJ*

2014
Soc. Bethesda, Md.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1074/jbc.M114.560920

Abstract: The aggregation of tau into paired helical filaments is involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer disease. The aggregation reaction is characterized by conformational conversion of the repeat domain, which partially adopts a cross-β structure in the resulting amyloid-like fibrils. Here we report the selection and characterization of an engineered binding protein, β-wrapin TP4, targeting the tau repeat domain. TP4 was obtained by phage display using the four-repeat tau construct K18ΔK280 as a target. TP4 binds K18ΔK280 as well as the longest isoform of human tau, htau40, with nanomolar affinity. NMR spectroscopy identified two alternative TP4-binding sites in the four-repeat domain, each including two hexapeptide motifs with high β-sheet propensity. Both binding sites contain the aggregation-determining PHF6 hexapeptide within repeat 3. In addition, one binding site includes the PHF6* hexapeptide within repeat 2, whereas the other includes the corresponding hexapeptide tau(337-342) within repeat 4, denoted PHF6**. Comparison of TP4-binding with tau aggregation reveals that the same regions of tau are involved in both processes. TP4 inhibits tau aggregation at substoichiometric concentration, demonstrating that it interferes with aggregation nucleation. This study provides residue-level insight into the interaction of tau with an aggregation inhibitor and highlights the structural flexibility of tau.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Strukturbiochemie (ICS-6)

Research Program(s):

1. 452 - Structural Biology (POF2-452) (POF2-452)

Appears in the scientific report 2014

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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