3VOY

Crystal structure of human glutaminase in apo form


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 2.20 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.222 
  • R-Value Work: 0.200 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.200 

Starting Model: experimental
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wwPDB Validation   3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.2 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Structural basis for the allosteric inhibitory mechanism of human kidney-type glutaminase (KGA) and its regulation by Raf-Mek-Erk signaling in cancer cell metabolism.

Thangavelu, K.Pan, C.Q.Karlberg, T.Balaji, G.Uttamchandani, M.Suresh, V.Schuler, H.Low, B.C.Sivaraman, J.

(2012) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109: 7705-7710

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1116573109
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    3CZD, 3VOY, 3VOZ, 3VP0, 3VP1, 3VP2, 3VP3, 3VP4

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    Besides thriving on altered glucose metabolism, cancer cells undergo glutaminolysis to meet their energy demands. As the first enzyme in catalyzing glutaminolysis, human kidney-type glutaminase isoform (KGA) is becoming an attractive target for small molecules such as BPTES [bis-2-(5 phenylacetamido-1, 2, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide], although the regulatory mechanism of KGA remains unknown. On the basis of crystal structures, we reveal that BPTES binds to an allosteric pocket at the dimer interface of KGA, triggering a dramatic conformational change of the key loop (Glu312-Pro329) near the catalytic site and rendering it inactive. The binding mode of BPTES on the hydrophobic pocket explains its specificity to KGA. Interestingly, KGA activity in cells is stimulated by EGF, and KGA associates with all three kinase components of the Raf-1/Mek2/Erk signaling module. However, the enhanced activity is abrogated by kinase-dead, dominant negative mutants of Raf-1 (Raf-1-K375M) and Mek2 (Mek2-K101A), protein phosphatase PP2A, and Mek-inhibitor U0126, indicative of phosphorylation-dependent regulation. Furthermore, treating cells that coexpressed Mek2-K101A and KGA with suboptimal level of BPTES leads to synergistic inhibition on cell proliferation. Consequently, mutating the crucial hydrophobic residues at this key loop abrogates KGA activity and cell proliferation, despite the binding of constitutive active Mek2-S222/226D. These studies therefore offer insights into (i) allosteric inhibition of KGA by BPTES, revealing the dynamic nature of KGA's active and inhibitory sites, and (ii) cross-talk and regulation of KGA activities by EGF-mediated Raf-Mek-Erk signaling. These findings will help in the design of better inhibitors and strategies for the treatment of cancers addicted with glutamine metabolism.


  • Organizational Affiliation

    Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543.


Macromolecules
Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Glutaminase kidney isoform, mitochondrial315Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: GLSGLS1KIAA0838
EC: 3.5.1.2
UniProt & NIH Common Fund Data Resources
Find proteins for O94925 (Homo sapiens)
Explore O94925 
Go to UniProtKB:  O94925
PHAROS:  O94925
GTEx:  ENSG00000115419 
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupO94925
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 2.20 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.222 
  • R-Value Work: 0.200 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.200 
  • Space Group: I 41 2 2
Unit Cell:
Length ( Å )Angle ( ˚ )
a = 139.598α = 90
b = 139.598β = 90
c = 156.618γ = 90
Software Package:
Software NamePurpose
ADSCdata collection
MOLREPphasing
CNSrefinement
HKL-2000data reduction
HKL-2000data scaling

Structure Validation

View Full Validation Report



Entry History 

Deposition Data

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2012-06-13
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2012-06-27
    Changes: Structure summary
  • Version 1.2: 2023-11-08
    Changes: Data collection, Database references, Derived calculations, Refinement description