CD38 is expressed as noncovalently associated homodimers on the surface of murine B lymphocytes.

CD38 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions as an ectoenzyme and as a receptor. Based on the structural similarity between CD38 and ADP-ribosyl cyclase from Aplysia californica, it was hypothesized that CD38 is expressed as a homodimer on the surface of cells. Indeed, CD38 dimers have been reported, however, the structural requirements for their stabilization on the plasma membrane are unknown. We demonstrate that the majority of CD38 is assembled as noncovalently associated homodimers on the surface of B cells. Analysis of CD38 mutants, expressed in Ba/F3 cells, revealed that truncation of the cytoplasmic region or mutation of a single amino acid within the alpha1-helix of CD38 decreased the stability of the CD38 homodimers when solubilized in detergent. Cells expressing the unstable CD38 homodimers had diminished expression of CD38 on the plasma membrane and the half-lives of these CD38 mutant proteins on the plasma membrane were significantly reduced. Together, these results show that CD38 is expressed as noncovalently associated homodimers on the surface of murine B cells and suggest that appropriate assembly of CD38 homodimers may play an important role in stabilizing CD38 on the plasma membrane of B cells.

Fluorometric studies of ligand-induced conformational changes of CD38.

The lymphoid surface antigen CD38 is a NAD(+)-glycohydrolase that also catalyzes the transformation of NAD(+) into cyclic ADP-ribose, a calcium mobilizing second messenger. In addition, ligation of CD38 by antibodies triggers signaling in lymphoid cells. Since the cytoplasmic tail of CD38 is dispensable for this latter property, we have previously proposed that CD38-mediated receptor signal transduction might be regulated by its conformational state. We have now examined the molecular changes of this protein during its interaction with NAD(+) by measuring the intrinsic fluorescence of CD38. We have shown that addition of the substrate produced a dramatic decrease in the fluorescence of the catalytically active recombinant soluble ectodomain of murine CD38. Analysis of this event revealed that the catalytic cycle involves a state of the enzyme that is characterized by a low fluorescence which, upon substrate turnover, reverts to the initial high intrinsic fluorescence level. In contrast, non-hydrolyzable substrates trap CD38 in its altered low fluorescence state. Studies with the hydrophilic quencher potassium iodide revealed that the tryptophan residues that are mainly involved in the observed changes in fluorescence, are remote from the active site. Similar data were also obtained with human CD38, indicating that studies of intrinsic fluorescence will be useful in monitoring the transconformation of CD38 from different species. Together, these data demonstrate that CD38 undergoes a reversible conformational change after substrate binding, and suggest a mechanism by which this change could alter interactions with different cell-surface partners.