Structural basis for specificity switching of the Src SH2 domain.
Kimber, M.S., Nachman, J., Cunningham, A.M., Gish, G.D., Pawson, T., Pai, E.F.(2000) Mol Cell 5: 1043-1049
- PubMed: 10911998 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1097-2765(00)80269-5
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1F1W, 1F2F - PubMed Abstract: 
The Src SH2 domain binds pYEEI-containing phosphopeptides in an extended conformation with a hydrophobic pocket, which includes ThrEF1, binding Ile(pY +3). Mutating ThrEF1 to tryptophan switches specificity to an Asn(pY +2) requirement, yielding a biological mimic of the Grb2 SH2 domain. Here we show that the Src ThrEF1Trp SH2 domain mutant binds pYVNV phosphopeptides in a beta turn conformation, which, despite differing conformations of the interacting tryptophan, closely resembles the native Grb2/pYVNV cognate peptide binding mode. The ThrEF1Trp substitution therefore switches specificity by physically occluding the pTyr +3 binding pocket and by providing additional interaction surface area for Asn(pY +2). This demonstrates structurally how novel SH2 domain specificities may rapidly evolve through single amino acid substitutions and suggests how new signaling pathways may develop.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.