BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association

Summary: To elicit apoptosis, BAX metamorphoses from an inert cytosolic monomer into homo-oligomers that permeabilize the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). A long-standing puzzle is that BH3 domains apparently activate BAX by not only its canonical groove but also a proposed site involving helices...

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Main Authors: Michael A. Dengler, Adeline Y. Robin, Leonie Gibson, Mark X. Li, Jarrod J. Sandow, Sweta Iyer, Andrew I. Webb, Dana Westphal, Grant Dewson, Jerry M. Adams
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-04-01
Series:Cell Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124719303560
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author Michael A. Dengler
Adeline Y. Robin
Leonie Gibson
Mark X. Li
Jarrod J. Sandow
Sweta Iyer
Andrew I. Webb
Dana Westphal
Grant Dewson
Jerry M. Adams
author_facet Michael A. Dengler
Adeline Y. Robin
Leonie Gibson
Mark X. Li
Jarrod J. Sandow
Sweta Iyer
Andrew I. Webb
Dana Westphal
Grant Dewson
Jerry M. Adams
author_sort Michael A. Dengler
collection DOAJ
description Summary: To elicit apoptosis, BAX metamorphoses from an inert cytosolic monomer into homo-oligomers that permeabilize the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). A long-standing puzzle is that BH3 domains apparently activate BAX by not only its canonical groove but also a proposed site involving helices α1 and α6. Our mutagenesis studies reveal that late steps like oligomerization require activation through the groove but probably not earlier steps like MOM association. Conversely, α1 or α6 obstruction and alanine mutagenesis scanning implicate these helices early in BAX activation. The α1 and α6 mutations lowered BH3 binding, altered the BAX conformation, and reduced its MOM translocation and integration; their exposure of the BAX α1-α2 loop allosterically sequestered its α9 membrane anchor in the groove. The crystal structure of an α6 mutant revealed additional allosteric effects. The results suggest that the α1 and α6 region drives MOM association and integration, whereas groove binding favors subsequent steps toward oligomerization. : BAX activation for apoptosis may require BH3 binding to its canonical groove and/or a less-characterized α1 and α6 site. Dengler et al. identify α1 and α6 mutations that impair early steps in BAX activation and reveal allosteric changes that control exposure of its membrane anchor and association with the mitochondrial outer membrane. Keywords: BCL-2 family, BAX activation, apoptosis, membrane association, oligomerization, allosteric changes, crystal structure, protein-protein association, protein conformation
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spelling doaj.art-1a88cb70b3f14443b0f43847941a92432022-12-22T03:08:16ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472019-04-01272359373.e6BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial AssociationMichael A. Dengler0Adeline Y. Robin1Leonie Gibson2Mark X. Li3Jarrod J. Sandow4Sweta Iyer5Andrew I. Webb6Dana Westphal7Grant Dewson8Jerry M. Adams9Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Corresponding authorSummary: To elicit apoptosis, BAX metamorphoses from an inert cytosolic monomer into homo-oligomers that permeabilize the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). A long-standing puzzle is that BH3 domains apparently activate BAX by not only its canonical groove but also a proposed site involving helices α1 and α6. Our mutagenesis studies reveal that late steps like oligomerization require activation through the groove but probably not earlier steps like MOM association. Conversely, α1 or α6 obstruction and alanine mutagenesis scanning implicate these helices early in BAX activation. The α1 and α6 mutations lowered BH3 binding, altered the BAX conformation, and reduced its MOM translocation and integration; their exposure of the BAX α1-α2 loop allosterically sequestered its α9 membrane anchor in the groove. The crystal structure of an α6 mutant revealed additional allosteric effects. The results suggest that the α1 and α6 region drives MOM association and integration, whereas groove binding favors subsequent steps toward oligomerization. : BAX activation for apoptosis may require BH3 binding to its canonical groove and/or a less-characterized α1 and α6 site. Dengler et al. identify α1 and α6 mutations that impair early steps in BAX activation and reveal allosteric changes that control exposure of its membrane anchor and association with the mitochondrial outer membrane. Keywords: BCL-2 family, BAX activation, apoptosis, membrane association, oligomerization, allosteric changes, crystal structure, protein-protein association, protein conformationhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124719303560
spellingShingle Michael A. Dengler
Adeline Y. Robin
Leonie Gibson
Mark X. Li
Jarrod J. Sandow
Sweta Iyer
Andrew I. Webb
Dana Westphal
Grant Dewson
Jerry M. Adams
BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association
Cell Reports
title BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association
title_full BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association
title_fullStr BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association
title_full_unstemmed BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association
title_short BAX Activation: Mutations Near Its Proposed Non-canonical BH3 Binding Site Reveal Allosteric Changes Controlling Mitochondrial Association
title_sort bax activation mutations near its proposed non canonical bh3 binding site reveal allosteric changes controlling mitochondrial association
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124719303560
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