Download MendeleyStructure of PAK1 in an autoinhibited conformation reveals a multistage activation switch.
Lei, M., Lu, W., Meng, W., Parrini, M.C., Eck, M.J., Mayer, B.J., Harrison, S.C.(2000) Cell 102: 387-397
- PubMed: 10975528 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(00)00043-x
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
1F3M - PubMed Abstract:
The p21-activated kinases (PAKs), stimulated by binding with GTP-liganded forms of Cdc42 or Rac, modulate cytoskeletal actin assembly and activate MAP-kinase pathways. The 2.3 A resolution crystal structure of a complex between the N-terminal autoregulatory fragment and the C-terminal kinase domain of PAK1 shows that GTPase binding will trigger a series of conformational changes, beginning with disruption of a PAK1 dimer and ending with rearrangement of the kinase active site into a catalytically competent state. An inhibitory switch (IS) domain, which overlaps the GTPase binding region of PAK1, positions a polypeptide segment across the kinase cleft. GTPase binding will refold part of the IS domain and unfold the rest. A related switch has been seen in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP).
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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