Solution structure of CXCL13 and heparan sulfate binding show that GAG binding site and cellular signalling rely on distinct domains. Issue 10 (25th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monneau, Yoan R.; Luo, Lingjie; Sankaranarayanan, Nehru Viji; Nagarajan, Balaji; Vivès, Romain R.; Baleux, Françoise; Desai, Umesh R.; Arenzana-Seidedos, Fernando; Lortat-Jacob, Hugues
• Is Part Of: Open biology. Volume 7:Issue 10(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-10-25
• Subjects: chemokine -- glycosaminoglycan -- CXCL13 -- heparan sulfate binding site -- heparan sulfate sequence; Biology -- Periodicals; 570
• DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2441

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract : Chemokines promote directional cell migration through binding to G-protein-coupled receptors, and as such are involved in a large array of developmental, homeostatic and pathological processes. They also interact with heparan sulfate (HS), the functional consequences of which depend on the respective location of the receptor- and the HS-binding sites, a detail that remains elusive for most chemokines. Here, to set up a biochemical framework to investigate how HS can regulate CXCL13 activity, we solved the solution structure of CXCL13. We showed that it comprises an unusually long and disordered C-terminal domain, appended to a classical chemokine-like structure. Using three independent experimental approaches, we found that it displays a unique association mode to HS, involving two clusters located in the α-helix and the C-terminal domain. Computational approaches were used to analyse the HS sequences preferentially recognized by the protein and gain atomic-level understanding of the CXCL13 dimerization induced upon HS binding. Starting with four sets of 254 HS tetrasaccharides, we identified 25 sequences that bind to CXCL13 monomer, among which a single one bound to CXCL13 dimer with high consistency. Importantly, we found that CXCL13 can be functionally presented to its receptor in a HS-bound form, suggesting that it can promote adhesion-dependent cell migration. Consistently, we designed CXCL13 mutations that preclude interaction with HS without affecting CXCR5-dependent cell signalling, opening the possibility to unambiguously demonstrate the role of HS in the biological function of this chemokine.