Cited by 51Axon Guidance and Neuronal SignalingProtein Structure and DynamicsReceptor Mechanisms and Signaling

Promiscuous and specific recognition among ephrins and Eph receptors

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Dai, Dandan, Huang, Qiang, Nussinov, Ruth, Ma, Buyong·2014·Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics

Abstract

Eph-ephrin interactions control the signal transduction between cells and play an important role in carcinogenesis and other diseases. The interactions between Eph receptors and ephrins of the same subclass are promiscuous; there are cross-interactions between some subclasses, but not all. To understand how Eph-ephrin interactions can be both promiscuous and specific, we investigated sixteen energy landscapes of four Eph receptors (A2, A4, B2, and B4) interacting with four ephrin ligands (A1, A2, A5, and B2). We generated conformational ensembles and recognition energy landscapes starting from separated Eph and ephrin molecules and proceeding up to the formation of Eph-ephrin complexes. Analysis of the Eph-ephrin recognition trajectories and the co-evolution entropy of 400 ligand binding domains of Eph receptor and 241 ephrin ligands identified conserved residues during the recognition process. Our study correctly predicted the promiscuity and specificity of the interactions and provided insights into their recognition. The dynamic conformational changes during Eph-ephrin recognition can be described by progressive conformational selection and population shift events, with two dynamic salt bridges between EphB4 and ephrin-B2 contributing to the specific recognition. EphA3 cancer-related mutations lowered the binding energies. The specificity is not only controlled by the final stage of the interaction across the protein-protein interface, but also has large contributions from binding kinetics with the help of dynamic intermediates along the pathway from the separated Eph and ephrin to the Eph-ephrin complex.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbapap.2014.07.002

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Authors
Dai, D., Huang, Q., Nussinov, R., & Ma, B.
Affiliations
  • Fudan University (CN)
  • Tel Aviv University (IL)
  • National Cancer Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Huang, Qiang
  • Ma, Buyong
Venue
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-10
Volume
1844
Issue
10
Pages
1729-1740
ISSN
1570-9639 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1999747385
Cited by
51
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
1.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (HHSN261200800001E)
  • NIH, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research
  • Hi-tech Research and Development Program of China (2008AA02Z311)
  • Shanghai Natural Science Foundation (13ZR1402400)
  • Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (B111)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Structure and Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
Keywords
Eph receptors, ephrins, energy landscape, conformational ensembles, conformational selection, demographic change, salt bridges, EphB4, ephrin-B2, EphA3, ligand-binding domain, binding kinetics, protein-protein recognition

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