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Crystal structure of NALP3 protein pyrin domain (PYD) and its implications in inflammasome assembly.

ABSTRACT: NALP3 inflammasome, composed of the three proteins NALP3, ASC, and Caspase-1, is a macromolecular complex responsible for the innate immune response against infection with bacterial and viral pathogens. Formation of the inflammasome can lead to the activation of inflammatory caspases, such as Caspase-1, which then activate pro-inflammatory cytokines by proteolytic cleavage. The assembly of the NALP3 inflammasome depends on the protein-interacting domain known as the death domain superfamily. NALP3 inflammasome is assembled via a pyrin domain (PYD)/PYD interaction between ASC and NALP3 and a caspase recruitment domain/caspase recruitment domain interaction between ASC and Caspase-1. As a first step toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms of inflammatory caspase activation by formation of inflammasome, we report the crystal structure of the PYD from NALP3 at 1.7-Å resolution. Although NALP3 PYD has the canonical six-helical bundle structural fold similar to other PYDs, the high resolution structure reveals the possible biologically important homodimeric interface and the dynamic properties of the fold. Comparison with other PYD structures shows both similarities and differences that may be functionally relevant. Structural and sequence analyses further implicate conserved surface residues in NALP3 PYD for ASC interaction and inflammasome assembly. The most interesting aspect of the structure was the unexpected disulfide bond between Cys-8 and Cys-108, which might be important for regulation of the activity of NALP3 by redox potential.

SUBMITTER: Bae JY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3234776 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Crystal structure of NALP3 protein pyrin domain (PYD) and its implications in inflammasome assembly.

Bae Ju Young JY Park Hyun Ho HH

The Journal of biological chemistry 20110831 45

NALP3 inflammasome, composed of the three proteins NALP3, ASC, and Caspase-1, is a macromolecular complex responsible for the innate immune response against infection with bacterial and viral pathogens. Formation of the inflammasome can lead to the activation of inflammatory caspases, such as Caspase-1, which then activate pro-inflammatory cytokines by proteolytic cleavage. The assembly of the NALP3 inflammasome depends on the protein-interacting domain known as the death domain superfamily. NAL ...[more]

PMID: 21880711

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Project description:BACKGROUND:AIM2 binds dsDNA and associates with ASC through their PYDs to form an inflammasome. RESULTS:The AIM2 PYD structure illustrates distinct charge distribution and a unique hydrophobic patch. CONCLUSION:The AIM2 PYD may bind the ASC PYD and the AIM2 HIN domain through overlapping surface. SIGNIFICANCE:These findings provide insights into the mechanisms of AIM2 autoinhibition and inflammasome assembly. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a cytosolic double-stranded (dsDNA) sensor essential for innate immune responses against DNA viruses and bacteria such as Francisella and Listeria. Upon dsDNA engagement, the AIM2 amino-terminal pyrin domain (PYD) is responsible for downstream signaling to the adapter protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) through homotypic PYD-PYD interactions and the assembly of an inflammasome. Toward a better understanding of the AIM2 signaling mechanism, we determined the crystal structure of the human AIM2 PYD. The structure reveals a death domain fold with a short ?3 helix that is buttressed by a highly conserved lysine residue at the ?2 helix, which may stabilize the ?3 helix for potential interaction with partner domains. The surface of the AIM2 PYD exhibits distinct charge distribution with highly acidic ?1-?2 helices and highly basic ?5-?6 helices. A prominent solvent-exposed hydrophobic patch formed by residues Phe-27 and Phe-28 at the ?2 helix resembles a similar surface involved in the death effector domain homotypic interactions. Docking studies suggest that the AIM2 PYD may bind the AIM2 hematopoietic interferon-inducible nuclear (HIN) domain or ASC PYD using overlapping surface near the ?2 helix. This may ensure that AIM2 interacts with the downstream adapter ASC only upon release of the autoinhibition by the dsDNA ligand. Our work thus unveils novel structural features of the AIM2 PYD and provides insights into the potential mechanisms of the PYD-HIN and PYD-PYD interactions important for AIM2 autoinhibition and inflammasome assembly.

Dataset Information

Crystal structure of NALP3 protein pyrin domain (PYD) and its implications in inflammasome assembly.

Publications

Crystal structure of NALP3 protein pyrin domain (PYD) and its implications in inflammasome assembly.

Similar Datasets

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