Molecular recognition of RAS/RAF complex at the membrane: Role of RAF cysteine-rich domain

Sci Rep. 2018 May 31;8(1):8461. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26832-4.

Abstract

Activation of RAF kinase involves the association of its RAS-binding domain (RBD) and cysteine-rich domain (CRD) with membrane-anchored RAS. However, the overall architecture of the RAS/RBD/CRD ternary complex and the orientations of its constituent domains at the membrane remain unclear. Here, we have combined all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with experimental data to construct and validate a model of membrane-anchored CRD, and used this as a basis to explore models of membrane-anchored RAS/RBD/CRD complex. First, simulations of the CRD revealed that it anchors to the membrane via insertion of its two hydrophobic loops, which is consistent with our NMR measurements of CRD bound to nanodiscs. Simulations of the CRD in the context of membrane-anchored RAS/RBD then show how CRD association with either RAS or RBD could play an unexpected role in guiding the membrane orientations of RAS/RBD. This finding has implications for the formation of RAS-RAS dimers, as different membrane orientations of RAS expose distinct putative dimerization interfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Domains
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • raf Kinases / chemistry
  • raf Kinases / genetics
  • raf Kinases / metabolism*
  • ras Proteins / chemistry
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • raf Kinases
  • ras Proteins
  • Cysteine