Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (Mar 2021)

The Interaction Mechanism of Intrinsically Disordered PP2A Inhibitor Proteins ARPP-16 and ARPP-19 With PP2A

  • Chandan Thapa,
  • Chandan Thapa,
  • Chandan Thapa,
  • Pekka Roivas,
  • Pekka Roivas,
  • Tatu Haataja,
  • Tatu Haataja,
  • Tatu Haataja,
  • Perttu Permi,
  • Perttu Permi,
  • Ulla Pentikäinen,
  • Ulla Pentikäinen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2021.650881
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity is critical for maintaining normal physiological cellular functions. PP2A is inhibited by endogenous inhibitor proteins in several pathological conditions including cancer. A PP2A inhibitor protein, ARPP-19, has recently been connected to several human cancer types. Accordingly, the knowledge about ARPP-19—PP2A inhibition mechanism is crucial for the understanding the disease development and the therapeutic targeting of ARPP-19—PP2A. Here, we show the first structural characterization of ARPP-19, and its splice variant ARPP-16 using NMR spectroscopy, and SAXS. The results reveal that both ARPP proteins are intrinsically disordered but contain transient secondary structure elements. The interaction mechanism of ARPP-16/19 with PP2A was investigated using microscale thermophoresis and NMR spectroscopy. Our results suggest that ARPP—PP2A A-subunit interaction is mediated by linear motif and has modest affinity whereas, the interaction of ARPPs with B56-subunit is weak and transient. Like many IDPs, ARPPs are promiscuous binders that transiently interact with PP2A A- and B56 subunits using multiple interaction motifs. In summary, our results provide a good starting point for future studies and development of therapeutics that block ARPP-PP2A interactions.

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