Cushing’s syndrome driver mutation disrupts protein kinase A allosteric network, altering both regulation and substrate specificity

Caitlin Walker, Yingjie Wang, Cristina Olivieri, Adak Karamafrooz, Jordan Casby, Kerstin Bathon, Davide Calebiro, Jiali Gao, David A. Bernlohr, Susan S. Taylor, Gianluigi Veglia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Genetic alterations in the PRKACA gene coding for the catalytic a subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA-C) are linked to cortisol-secreting adrenocortical adenomas, resulting in Cushing’s syndrome. Among those, a single mutation (L205R) has been found in up to 67% of patients. Because the x-ray structures of the wild-type and mutant kinases are essentially identical, the mechanism explaining aberrant function of this mutant remains under active debate. Using NMR spectroscopy, thermodynamics, kinetic assays, and molecular dynamics simulations, we found that this single mutation causes global changes in the enzyme, disrupting the intramolecular allosteric network and eliciting losses in nucleotide/pseudo-substrate binding cooperativity. Remarkably, by rewiring its internal allosteric network, PKA-C L205R is able to bind and phosphorylate non-canonical substrates, explaining its changes in substrate specificity. Both the lack of regulation and change in substrate specificity reveal the complex role of this mutated kinase in the formation of cortisol-secreting adrenocortical adenomas.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereaaw9298
Number of pages12
JournalScience Advances
Volume5
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Aug 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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