1. The C2 domain of SynGAP is essential for stimulation of the Rap GTPase reaction
- Author
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Alexander Eberth, Mohammad Reza Ahmadian, Annabel H. A. Parret, Lothar Gremer, Vladimir Pena, Klaus Scheffzek, Michael Hothorn, Nikolai Kaschau, and Fabien Bonneau
- Subjects
Models, Molecular ,Scientific Report ,Guanosine ,GTPase ,SYNGAP1 ,Biology ,Biochemistry ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Protein structure ,Genetics ,Humans ,Molecular Biology ,C2 domain ,GTPase-Activating Proteins ,Brain ,Long-term potentiation ,Protein Structure, Tertiary ,Cell biology ,Kinetics ,rap GTP-Binding Proteins ,chemistry ,ras GTPase-Activating Proteins ,Synaptic plasticity ,Triphosphatase ,Crystallization - Abstract
The brain-specific synaptic guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein (SynGAP) is important in synaptic plasticity. It shows dual specificity for the small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins Rap and Ras. Here, we show that RapGAP activity of SynGAP requires its C2 domain. In contrast to the isolated GAP domain, which does not show any detectable RapGAP activity, a fragment comprising the C2 and GAP domains (C2-GAP) stimulates the intrinsic GTPase reaction of Rap by approximately 1 x 10(4). The C2-GAP crystal structure, complemented by modelling and biochemical analyses, favours a concerted movement of the C2 domain towards the switch II region of Rap to assist in GTPase stimulation. Our data support a catalytic mechanism similar to that of canonical RasGAPs and distinct from the canonical RapGAPs. SynGAP presents the first example, to our knowledge, of a GAP that uses a second domain for catalytic activity, thus pointing to a new function of C2 domains.
- Published
- 2008
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