Identification of a magnesium-binding site at the primary allosteric calcium sensor of the sodium-calcium exchanger: Implications for physiological regulation.

Sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) proteins are ubiquitously expressed and play a pivotal role in cellular calcium homeostasis by mediating uphill calcium efflux across the cell membrane. Intracellular calcium allosterically regulates the exchange activity by binding to two cytoplasmic calcium-binding domains, CBD1 and CBD2. However, the calcium-binding affinities of these domains are seemingly inadequate to sense physiological calcium oscillations. Previously, magnesium binding to either domain was shown to tune their affinity for calcium, bringing it into the physiological range. However, while the magnesium-binding site of CBD2 was identified, the identity of the CBD1 magnesium site remains elusive. Here, using molecular dynamics in combination with differential scanning fluorimetry and mutational analysis, we pinpoint the magnesium-binding site in CBD1. Specifically, among four calcium-binding sites (Ca1-Ca4) in this domain, only Ca1 can accommodate magnesium with an affinity similar to its free intracellular concentration. Moreover, our results provide mechanistic insights into the modulation of the regulatory calcium affinity by magnesium, which allows an adequate NCX activity level throughout varying physiological needs.

Chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) proteins function as fusogens.

Chloride Intracellular Channel (CLIC) family members uniquely transition between soluble and membrane-associated conformations. Despite decades of extensive functional and structural studies, CLICs' function as ion channels remains debated, rendering our understanding of their physiological role incomplete. Here, we expose the function of CLIC5 as a fusogen. We demonstrate that purified CLIC5 directly interacts with the membrane and induces fusion, as reflected by increased liposomal diameter and lipid and content mixing between liposomes. Moreover, we show that this activity is facilitated by acidic pH, a known trigger for CLICs' transition to a membrane-associated conformation, and that increased exposure of the hydrophobic inter-domain interface is crucial for this process. Finally, mutation of a conserved hydrophobic interfacial residue diminishes the fusogenic activity of CLIC5 in vitro and impairs excretory canal extension in C. elegans in vivo. Together, our results unravel the long-sought physiological role of these enigmatic proteins.

Split Chloramphenicol Acetyl-Transferase Assay Reveals Self-Ubiquitylation-Dependent Regulation of UBE3B.

Split reporter protein-based genetic section systems are widely used to identify and characterize protein-protein interactions (PPI). The assembly of split markers that antagonize toxins, rather than required for synthesis of missing metabolites, facilitates the seeding of high density of cells and selective growth. Here we present a newly developed split chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (split-CAT) -based genetic selection system. The N terminus fragment of CAT is fused downstream of the protein of interest and the C terminus fragment is tethered upstream to its postulated partner. We demonstrate the system's advantages for the study of PPIs. Moreover, we show that co-expression of a functional ubiquitylation cascade where the target and ubiquitin are tethered to the split-CAT fragments results in ubiquitylation-dependent selective growth. Since proteins do not have to be purified from the bacteria and due to the high sensitivity of the split-CAT reporter, detection of challenging protein cascades and post-translation modifications is enabled. In addition, we demonstrate that the split-CAT system responds to small molecule inhibitors and molecular glues (GLUTACs). The absence of ubiquitylation-dependent degradation and deubiquitylation in E. coli significantly simplify the interpretation of the results. We harnessed the developed system to demonstrate that like NEDD4, UBE3B also undergoes self-ubiquitylation-dependent inactivation. We show that self-ubiquitylation of UBE3B on K665 induces oligomerization and inactivation in yeast and mammalian cells respectively. Finally, we showcase the advantages of split-CAT in the study of human diseases by demonstrating that mutations in UBE3B that cause Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome exhibit clear E. coli growth phenotypes.