Crystal Structure of PKG I:cGMP Complex Reveals a cGMP-Mediated Dimeric Interface that Facilitates cGMP-Induced Activation

Structure. 2016 May 3;24(5):710-720. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2016.03.009. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Abstract

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) is a key regulator of smooth muscle and vascular tone and represents an important drug target for treating hypertensive diseases and erectile dysfunction. Despite its importance, its activation mechanism is not fully understood. To understand the activation mechanism, we determined a 2.5 Å crystal structure of the PKG I regulatory (R) domain bound with cGMP, which represents the activated state. Although we used a monomeric domain for crystallization, the structure reveals that two R domains form a symmetric dimer where the cGMP bound at high-affinity pockets provide critical dimeric contacts. Small-angle X-ray scattering and mutagenesis support this dimer model, suggesting that the dimer interface modulates kinase activation. Finally, structural comparison with the homologous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase reveals that PKG is drastically different from protein kinase A in its active conformation, suggesting a novel activation mechanism for PKG.

Keywords: NO-cGMP signaling; allosteric activation; cGMP-dependent protein kinase; crystal structure; cyclic nucleotide-binding domain; second messengers; small-angle X-ray scattering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclic GMP / chemistry
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism*
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I / chemistry*
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization

Substances

  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I
  • Cyclic GMP