Open AccessStructural basis for Rab GTPase recognition and endosome tethering by the C 2 H 2 zinc finger of Early Endosomal Autoantigen 1 (EEA1)
Author(s) -
Ashwini Kumar Mishra,
Sudharshan Eathiraj,
Silvia Corvera,
David G. Lambright
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1000843107
Subject(s) - rab , endosome , gtpase , microbiology and biotechnology , zinc finger , escrt , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , transcription factor , intracellular
Regulation of endosomal trafficking by Rab GTPases depends on selective interactions with multivalent effectors, including EEA1 and Rabenosyn-5, which facilitate endosome tethering, sorting, and fusion. Both EEA1 and Rabenosyn-5 contain a distinctive N-terminal C2 H2 zinc finger that binds Rab5. How these C2 H2 zinc fingers recognize Rab GTPases remains unknown. Here, we report the crystal structure of Rab5A in complex with the EEA1 C2 H2 zinc finger. The binding interface involves all elements of the zinc finger as well as a short N-terminal extension but is restricted to the switch and interswitch regions of Rab5. High selectivity for Rab5 and, to a lesser extent Rab22, is observed in quantitative profiles of binding to Rab family GTPases. Although critical determinants are identified in both switch regions, Rab4-to-Rab5 conversion-of-specificity mutants reveal an essential requirement for additional substitutions in the proximal protein core that are predicted to indirectly influence recognition through affects on the structure and conformational stability of the switch regions.