Molecular basis for the interaction of low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) with integrin alphaMbeta2: identification of binding sites within alphaMbeta2 for LRP1.

The LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a large endocytic receptor that controls macrophage migration in part by interacting with ß(2) integrin receptors. However, the molecular mechanism underlying LRP1 integrin recognition is poorly understood. Here, we report that LRP1 specifically recognizes α(M)ß(2) but not its homologous receptor α(L)ß(2). The interaction between these two cellular receptors in macrophages is significantly enhanced upon α(M)ß(2) activation by LPS and is mediated by multiple regions in both LRP1 and α(M)ß(2). Specifically, we find that both the heavy and light chains of LRP1 are involved in α(M)ß(2) binding. Within the heavy chain, the binding is mediated primarily via the second and fourth ligand binding repeats. For α(M)ß(2), we find that the α(M)-I domain represents a major LRP1 recognition site. Indeed, substitution of the I domain of the α(L)ß(2) receptor with that of α(M) confers the α(L)ß(2) receptor with the ability to interact with LRP1. Furthermore, we show that residues (160)EQLKKSKTL(170) within the α(M)-I domain represent a major LRP1 recognition site. Given that perturbation of this specific sequence leads to altered adhesive activity of α(M)ß(2), our finding suggests that binding of LRP1 to α(M)ß(2) could alter integrin function. Indeed, we further demonstrate that the soluble form of LRP1 (sLRP1) inhibits α(M)ß(2)-mediated adhesion of cells to fibrinogen. These studies suggest that sLRP1 may attenuate inflammation by modulating integrin function.

The structure of receptor-associated protein (RAP).

The receptor-associated protein (RAP) is a molecular chaperone that binds tightly to certain newly synthesized LDL receptor family members in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and facilitates their delivery to the Golgi. We have adopted a divide-and-conquer strategy to solve the structures of the individual domains of RAP using NMR spectroscopy. We present here the newly determined structure of domain 2. Based on this structure and the structures of domains 1 and 3, which were solved previously, we utilized experimental small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data and a novel simulated annealing protocol to characterize the overall structure of RAP. The results reveal that RAP adopts a unique structural architecture consisting of three independent three-helix bundles that are connected by long and flexible linkers. The flexible linkers and the quasi-repetitive structural architecture may allow RAP to adopt various possible conformations when interacting with the LDL receptors, which are also made of repetitive substructure units.

RAP uses a histidine switch to regulate its interaction with LRP in the ER and Golgi.

The receptor associated protein (RAP) is an antagonist and molecular chaperone that binds tightly to low-density lipoprotein receptor family members in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). After escorting these receptors to the Golgi, RAP dissociates from the receptors. The molecular mechanism of the dissociation has been unknown until now. The solution structure of RAP-D3 domain presented here reveals a striking increase in positively charged residues on the surface of this RAP domain due to protonation of solvent-exposed histidine sidechains as the pH is reduced from a near neutral pH of the ER to the acidic pH of the Golgi. Structure-based mutagenesis studies in vitro and in cells confirm that the protonation of histidine residues as a consequence of the pH changes modulate the binding/release of RAP from LRP. This histidine switch may serve as a general mechanism for regulating cell trafficking events.

The apoE isoform binding properties of the VLDL receptor reveal marked differences from LRP and the LDL receptor.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) associates with lipoproteins and mediates their interaction with members of the LDL receptor family. ApoE exists as three common isoforms that have important distinct functional and biological properties. Two apoE isoforms, apoE3 and apoE4, are recognized by the LDL receptor, whereas apoE2 binds poorly to this receptor and is associated with type III hyperlipidemia. In addition, the apoE4 isoform is associated with the common late-onset familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease. Although the interaction of apoE with the LDL receptor is well characterized, the specificity of other members of this receptor family for apoE is poorly understood. In the current investigation, we have characterized the binding of apoE to the VLDL receptor and the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP). Our results indicate that like the LDL receptor, LRP prefers lipid-bound forms of apoE, but in contrast to the LDL receptor, both LRP and the VLDL receptor recognize all apoE isoforms. Interestingly, the VLDL receptor does not require the association of apoE with lipid for optimal recognition and avidly binds lipid-free apoE. It is likely that this receptor-dependent specificity for various apoE isoforms and for lipid-free versus lipid-bound forms of apoE is physiologically significant and is connected to distinct functions for these receptors.

NMR structural studies of domain 1 of receptor-associated protein.

The 39 kDa receptor-associated protein (RAP) is an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein that binds tightly to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) as well as to other members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor superfamily. The association of RAP with LRP prevents this receptor from interacting with ligands. RAP is a three-domain protein that contains two independent LRP binding sites; one located within domains 1 and 2, and one located within domain 3. As the first step toward defining the structure of the full-length protein and understanding the interaction between RAP and this family of receptors, we have determined the 3D structure of domain 1 using constraints derived from heteronuclear multi-dimensional NMR spectra, including NOEs, dihedral angles, J-couplings and chemical shifts, as well as two sets of non-correlated residual dipolar couplings measured from the protein solutions in anisotropic media of Pf1 and 6% polyacrylamide gel. The backbone C(alpha) rmsd between the current structure and a homo-nuclear NOE-based structure is about 2 A. The large rmsd mainly reflects the significant differences in helical orientation and in the structural details of the long helix (helix 2) between the two structures.

1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments of domain 1 of receptor associated protein.

The 39 kDa receptor associated protein (RAP) is a modular protein consisting of multiple domains. There has been no x-ray crystal structure of RAP available and the full-length protein does not behave well in a NMR tube. To elucidate the 3D structure of the RAP, we undertook structure determination of individual domains of the RAP. As the first step, here we report the nearly complete assignments of the (1)H, (13)C and (15)N chemical shift signals of domain 1 of the RAP.