Assembly of the mitotic inter-microtubule bridge complex clathrin-TACC3-ch-TOG: a hybrid structural biology approach
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Molecular & Cellular Biology
Abstract
During cell division, chromosomes - the structures containing DNA within cells - must be divided equally between the two new cells. This is achieved by the mitotic spindle, which uses fibres composed of microtubules to direct the movement of chromosomes inside the cell. Some of these fibres are reinforced by "bridges" to ensure they can withstand the increased stresses involved. The shortest and most common sort of bridge is made up of three proteins - called clathrin, TACC3 and ch-TOG. At present, we have only a rough idea how the three proteins interact and how, by coming together, they are able to bridge between microtubules.
When the interactions between the bridge-forming proteins are disrupted, they are no longer able to bind the microtubules, and as a result the mitotic spindles are significantly weaker. Cancer cells depend on robust mitotic spindles to enable their proliferation, resulting in tumour growth. Drugs currently used to treat cancer bind to microtubules and destabilize mitotic spindles, but also affect the microtubules in normal cells. We believe that targeting the interactions between these three proteins could produce cancer drugs with fewer side effects than current treatments. To do this, we need to understand the interactions between the three proteins in great detail.
We now propose to investigate the interactions between clathrin, TACC3 and ch-TOG using methods that will reveal how the three proteins come together at the level of their constituent atoms. In the short term, we will use this information to build up a picture of how each interaction contributes to bridge formation. In the longer term, this will help us to decide which of the interactions would make the best candidate for the development of new cancer drugs. Having models of the interaction in atomic detail will accelerate the process of designing these drugs.
When the interactions between the bridge-forming proteins are disrupted, they are no longer able to bind the microtubules, and as a result the mitotic spindles are significantly weaker. Cancer cells depend on robust mitotic spindles to enable their proliferation, resulting in tumour growth. Drugs currently used to treat cancer bind to microtubules and destabilize mitotic spindles, but also affect the microtubules in normal cells. We believe that targeting the interactions between these three proteins could produce cancer drugs with fewer side effects than current treatments. To do this, we need to understand the interactions between the three proteins in great detail.
We now propose to investigate the interactions between clathrin, TACC3 and ch-TOG using methods that will reveal how the three proteins come together at the level of their constituent atoms. In the short term, we will use this information to build up a picture of how each interaction contributes to bridge formation. In the longer term, this will help us to decide which of the interactions would make the best candidate for the development of new cancer drugs. Having models of the interaction in atomic detail will accelerate the process of designing these drugs.
Technical Summary
Sister chromatids are connected symmetrically to two spindle poles through bundles of microtubules (MTs) called kinetochore-fibres (K-fibres). Built to withstand tension forces, the microtubules within K-fibres are more stable than other spindle MTs, in part because they are connected through proteinaceous bridges, such as the CTC complex comprising clathrin, TACC3 and ch-TOG. The beta-propeller of clathrin and the coiled-coil domain of TACC3 are both required for MT-binding, and the two proteins are brought together upon phosphorylation of an extended peptide region in TACC3 that binds to the ankle region of clathrin. Here, through structural, molecular and cell biology approaches, we aim to determine the structures of the two key interactions within the complex and to define the overall architecture of the core MT-binding module.
1) Interaction between clathrin and TACC3. The ankle domain of clathrin does not have a canonical phospho-binding motif. We will establish the structural basis of phosphorylated TACC3 recognition and measure the contribution of phosphorylation and other key residues to binding.
2) Interaction between ch-TOG and TACC3. The role of ch-TOG in the complex is unclear. We will investigate whether it is a dynamic component, measure its effect on the clathrin/TACC3 interaction and on the interaction with MTs. We will determine the structure of the complex to discover how ch-TOG recognises the TACC3 coiled-coil.
3) Assembly of the core MT-binding module. We will assemble the two complex structures together with other biophysical data into a model of the core complex. This will define the relative position and orientation of the domains within the complex and give insights into how the phospho-regulated interaction of TACC3 and clathrin brings together the coiled-coil and beta-propeller domains to form a MT binding module. The model will show how the position of ch-TOG in the complex is consistent with its role.
1) Interaction between clathrin and TACC3. The ankle domain of clathrin does not have a canonical phospho-binding motif. We will establish the structural basis of phosphorylated TACC3 recognition and measure the contribution of phosphorylation and other key residues to binding.
2) Interaction between ch-TOG and TACC3. The role of ch-TOG in the complex is unclear. We will investigate whether it is a dynamic component, measure its effect on the clathrin/TACC3 interaction and on the interaction with MTs. We will determine the structure of the complex to discover how ch-TOG recognises the TACC3 coiled-coil.
3) Assembly of the core MT-binding module. We will assemble the two complex structures together with other biophysical data into a model of the core complex. This will define the relative position and orientation of the domains within the complex and give insights into how the phospho-regulated interaction of TACC3 and clathrin brings together the coiled-coil and beta-propeller domains to form a MT binding module. The model will show how the position of ch-TOG in the complex is consistent with its role.
Planned Impact
Research career development. Training the next generation of biomedical research scientists is an important component of our work that has lasting impact. Our aim is that the PDRAs who work on this project will be in a strong position to apply for Fellowships either directly afterwards, or after gaining further experience. This approach is highlighted by a former PDRA, Charlotte Dodson, who was first author on 3 papers from the Bayliss group, including one in Science Signaling, and has now been awarded a Research Fellowship from Imperial College to establish her own group.
Cancer genes. Two of the three proteins that we plan to study in this project (ch-TOG and TACC3) are overexpressed in cancer cells, but their contributions to cancer development and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Our work will contribute to a deeper understanding of the functions of these proteins, leading to new insights into their roles in human disease.
CTC complex inhibitors. Anti-mitotic drugs such as vincristine and docetaxol are among the most commonly used treatments in the cancer clinic, and form part of the front-line treatments for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most commonly occurring form, and lung cancer. The path to discovering improved treatments for these diseases is long and challenging. It requires accurate models that generate ideas for therapeutic development, as well as reagents and assays to support drug discovery. Pharmaceutical companies or charitable/academic drug discovery groups will incorporate our work into drug discovery projects. This will be done through our existing network of collaborators or, with the help of the Enterprise and Business Development Office in Leicester, with new partners. As our track record on Aurora-A and NEK2 kinases shows, we will play a direct role in developing therapeutics. Development of protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors is at the forefront of current drug discovery, and specific aspects of our work together form a 'package' that will contribute to the development of inhibitors targeting the CTC complex:
i) The recombinant CTC proteins we make, and the methods used to make them will be used in assays for developing PPIs.
ii) Binding constants for interactions and the assays used to generate them are useful for formulating strategies for targeting an interaction and in the screening/validation of inhibitory compounds.
iii) High-resolution structures of the target interface will be critical in the design and refinement of PPI inhibitors. The methods used to generate these structures will be used in the development of inhibitors, for example the NMR spectra and assignments that underpin the structure of the 4alpha domain could be used for NMR-based screening of chemical inhibitors.
Outreach - Local charities and patients. Just knowing that relevant research is being done on the disease is helpful to cancer patients and their supporters because it shows that scientists are taking an interest and that progress will be made in tackling the disease. We work with local hospitals, charities (such as HOPE) and patient groups, giving tours of our laboratories and presenting our work. We plan to involve the PDRAs working on this project directly in such events, giving them the opportunity to showcase their work to the public. We believe that outreach events play a crucial role in demonstrating to the public that the funds they raise, through taxation or charity, are being used to carry out world-class research for public good.
Outreach - Future scientists. Modern biomedical research is an inspirational topic for exciting children and young adults about science. Bayliss gives talks in schools about his own work, which have to date been focused on cancer. This project encompasses aspects of chemistry, biology and physics, and will form the basis for inspirational future talks on basic science by both PIs aimed at schoolchildren who are studying these subjects.
Cancer genes. Two of the three proteins that we plan to study in this project (ch-TOG and TACC3) are overexpressed in cancer cells, but their contributions to cancer development and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Our work will contribute to a deeper understanding of the functions of these proteins, leading to new insights into their roles in human disease.
CTC complex inhibitors. Anti-mitotic drugs such as vincristine and docetaxol are among the most commonly used treatments in the cancer clinic, and form part of the front-line treatments for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most commonly occurring form, and lung cancer. The path to discovering improved treatments for these diseases is long and challenging. It requires accurate models that generate ideas for therapeutic development, as well as reagents and assays to support drug discovery. Pharmaceutical companies or charitable/academic drug discovery groups will incorporate our work into drug discovery projects. This will be done through our existing network of collaborators or, with the help of the Enterprise and Business Development Office in Leicester, with new partners. As our track record on Aurora-A and NEK2 kinases shows, we will play a direct role in developing therapeutics. Development of protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors is at the forefront of current drug discovery, and specific aspects of our work together form a 'package' that will contribute to the development of inhibitors targeting the CTC complex:
i) The recombinant CTC proteins we make, and the methods used to make them will be used in assays for developing PPIs.
ii) Binding constants for interactions and the assays used to generate them are useful for formulating strategies for targeting an interaction and in the screening/validation of inhibitory compounds.
iii) High-resolution structures of the target interface will be critical in the design and refinement of PPI inhibitors. The methods used to generate these structures will be used in the development of inhibitors, for example the NMR spectra and assignments that underpin the structure of the 4alpha domain could be used for NMR-based screening of chemical inhibitors.
Outreach - Local charities and patients. Just knowing that relevant research is being done on the disease is helpful to cancer patients and their supporters because it shows that scientists are taking an interest and that progress will be made in tackling the disease. We work with local hospitals, charities (such as HOPE) and patient groups, giving tours of our laboratories and presenting our work. We plan to involve the PDRAs working on this project directly in such events, giving them the opportunity to showcase their work to the public. We believe that outreach events play a crucial role in demonstrating to the public that the funds they raise, through taxation or charity, are being used to carry out world-class research for public good.
Outreach - Future scientists. Modern biomedical research is an inspirational topic for exciting children and young adults about science. Bayliss gives talks in schools about his own work, which have to date been focused on cancer. This project encompasses aspects of chemistry, biology and physics, and will form the basis for inspirational future talks on basic science by both PIs aimed at schoolchildren who are studying these subjects.
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Bayliss (Principal Investigator) | |
Mark Pfuhl (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Rostkova E
(2018)
Solution NMR assignment of the C-terminal domain of human chTOG.
in Biomolecular NMR assignments
Sampson J
(2017)
Hsp72 and Nek6 Cooperate to Cluster Amplified Centrosomes in Cancer Cells.
in Cancer research
Fry AM
(2017)
Mitotic Regulation by NEK Kinase Networks.
in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
Mukherjee M
(2018)
Mitotic phosphorylation regulates Hsp72 spindle localization by uncoupling ATP binding from substrate release.
in Science signaling
Burgess S
(2018)
Mitotic spindle association of TACC3 requires Aurora-A-dependent stabilization of a cryptic a-helix
in The EMBO Journal
Description | During cell division, chromosomes - the structures containing DNA within cells - must be divided equally between the two new cells. This is achieved by the mitotic spindle, which uses fibres composed of microtubules to direct the movement of chromosomes inside the cell. Some of these fibres are reinforced by "bridges" to ensure they can withstand the increased stresses involved. The shortest and most common sort of bridge is made up of three proteins - called clathrin, TACC3 and ch-TOG. At present, we have only a rough idea how the three proteins interact and how, by coming together, they are able to bridge between microtubules. This BBSRC-funded award enabled us to make the following new discoveries: 1) We discovered how TACC3 interacts with clathrin using protein crystallography to determine the position of the atoms that make up the two proteins. Excitingly, the interaction revealed a new form of interaction that we believe will occur in other proteins. From a more practical view, the structure will allow us to design inhibitors of the interaction, which we would like to develop as potential new cancer therapies. 2) We determined the structure of the region of chTOG that interacts with TACC3. To our surprise, it closely resembles other regions of chTOG (called TOG domains). This suggests to us that this new region of chTOG evolved by duplication of the gene. TOG domains interact with a protein called tubulin, and this interaction is found in organisms as simple as yeast and as complex as man. The new TOG domain we have discovered has evolved to bind TACC3, and does not bind tubulin. Interestingly, chTOG proteins in other organisms (e.g. yeast) have evolved differently. This work gives us insights into the evolution of a fundamental cellular process (cell division). 3) We made another unexpected discovery that has implications for developing new cancer therapies. Following on from previous work which showed that the protein Hsp72 regulates the function of TACC3 and chTOG in cell division, we determined the structure of the mitotic form of Hsp72, which is chemically modified by the Nek6 protein. The structure shows how the modification of Hsp72 profoundly affects its activity, which may help us to develop Hsp72 inhibitors. |
Exploitation Route | We are excited about the progress we made in this project. The first discovery will enable our efforts to develop inhibitors of the TACC3-chTOG interaction, and has identified some novel biology that we plan to address through a new BBSRC grant that will commence in 2019. The third discovery has been published, and has formed the basis for a BBSRC sLoLa application. We have yet to publish the second discovery, and we will focus on submitting this paper during 2019, and so we have not made plans to follow them up yet. |
Sectors | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | One of the major research findings from the grant was the discovery of a protein that changes from disordered to ordered upon chemical modification (phosphorylation). This finding resonated with a colleague in the School of Design at the University of Leeds, Jane Scott. Jane is an artist who uses textiles to create 3D sculptures. Intrigued by the biological concepts that underpin my research, Jane and I began to collaborate on 3D models using textiles. We presented an early stage of our work that included 3D knitted models (forms), along with pieces that have shape-changing properties at the Share Event for Leeds Creative Labs. https://leeds.eventful.com/events/share-event-leeds-creative-labs-biological-science-/E0-001-122838607-6 In the longer-term, we have two aims - First, to inspire the public about the concept of biological structure through art; Second, to develop shape-changing systems based on biological understanding. Unfortunately the workshops we had planned were disrupted by COVID and our application for funding to develop a citizen science project based on these findings was unsuccessful. |
Sector | Creative Economy |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Deciphering the function of intrinsically disordered protein regions in a cellular context |
Amount | £4,267,285 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/V003577/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 10/2023 |
Description | Mitotic spindle stability and chromosome missegregation in cancer - Cancer Research UK Programme Award |
Amount | £1,500,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 336902 |
Organisation | Cancer Research UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 04/2024 |
Description | Phosphodependent helix switches in cellular signalling |
Amount | £846,384 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/S00730X/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 01/2023 |
Description | EML4-ALK collaboration South Korea |
Organisation | National Medical Centre (Seoul) |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | My team generated hypotheses regarding patient response to targeted therapies and provided genetic constructs to test hypotheses in vitro. |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborator works in the largest hospital in South Korea, and they have access to a rich resource of patient data. They tested our hypothesis, and we co-authored a research paper. We have applied for further funding. |
Impact | We have published two papers to date. We aim to expand our analysis to a larger patient cohort. The collaboration is multidisciplinary - structural biology and clinical medicine. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Stapled peptides Georgia |
Organisation | University of Georgia |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We provided amino acid sequences of regions of proteins that adopt helical conformations when phosphorylated. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners synthesised the peptides using novel chemistry to force the peptides into a helical conformation |
Impact | The collaboration has already resulted in a joint publication (EMBO J, 2018). The collaboration is multii-disciplinary (chemistry, biology). |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Lab tours 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | I gave a scientific lay presentation and then, together with members of my team, we demonstrated 3 sets of experiments. We explained how new therapeutics are developed, and how genetic information is used to select treatments for patients. As usual, we had a very lively discussion with the visitors and received outstanding feedback - the visitors learned a lot and would like to visit again! This event was carried out in March and June 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |