The Eif2 Phosphatase: Characterization and Modulation
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The eIF2 phosphatase: characterization and modulation Ana Crespillo Casado Darwin College July 2018 Ana Crespillo Casado The eIF2 phosphatase: characterization and modulation Abstract Cellular needs are fulfilled by the combined activity of functional proteins. Consequently, cells are equipped with a complex proteostatic network that controls protein production in response to cellular requisites. Thereby, protein synthesis is induced or attenuated depending on the particular cellular conditions. One of the mechanisms to control protein synthesis is the phosphorylation of eIF2, which triggers the so-called Integrated Stress Response (ISR). Kinases that sense stresses induce the phosphorylation of eIF2, which, on the one hand, attenuates global rates of protein synthesis and, on the other hand, activates the expression of specific proteins that help to alleviate the stress. One of the proteins preferentially expressed during the ISR is PPP1R15A, a regulatory subunit of Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1). The PP1/PPP1R15A holophosphatase dephosphorylates eIF2 and terminates the ISR once the stresses are resolved. Hence, eIF2 kinases and phosphatases work together to control levels of phosphorylated eIF2. Maintaining the right balance between the activity of these kinases and phosphatases is important, as is seen by the correlation between their perturbance and the appearance of certain cellular malfunctions or diseases. However, affecting this balance has been also suggested to have beneficial effects. For example, genetic interference with the PPP1R15A regulatory subunit is proposed to confer protection to mice and cells under ER-stress conditions. This observation led to the search for compounds with the ability to modulate the ISR, in particular, by acting on the eIF2 phosphatases. Three compounds (Salubrinal, Guanabenz and Sephin1) have been proposed as eIF2 phosphatase inhibitors with potential use as therapeutic tools in protein misfolding diseases. However, their precise mechanism of action and their direct effect on the enzyme remains an open question. 2 This thesis focuses on the in vitro reconstitution of the eIF2 phosphatase, which served as a platform for characterizing the enzyme (in terms of its structure, activity and assembly) and for studying the proposed inhibitors. This report details key structural features of the PPP1R15/PP1 holophosphatase, the discovery of a cellular cofactor of the enzyme and the conclusions obtained after analysing the effect of its proposed inhibitors. It also includes the development of several in vitro assays, which could potentially be used to screen libraries of compounds in search for modulators of the enzyme. 3 Preface This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except as declared in the Preface and specified in the relevant parts of the main text or figure legends. It is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for a degree or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. I further state that no substantial part of my dissertation has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for any such degree, diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text It does not exceed the prescribed word limit for the relevant Degree Committee. Parts of this thesis are included in the following publications: Chen, R., Rato, C., Yan, Y., Crespillo-Casado, A., Clarke, H. J., Heather, P., Marciniak, S.J., Ron, D. (2015). G-actin provides substrate-specificity to eukaryotic initiation factor 2α holophosphatases. eLife Crespillo-Casado, A., Chambers, J. E., Fischer, P. M., Marciniak, S. J., & Ron, D. (2017). PPP1R15A-mediated dephosphorylation of eIF2 a is unaffected by Sephin1 or Guanabenz. eLife Crespillo-Casado, A., Claes, Z., Choy, M. S., Peti, W., Bollen, M., & Ron, D. (2018). A Sephin1-insensitive tripartite holophosphatase dephosphorylates translation initiation factor 2α. Journal of Biological Chemistry 4 Acknowledgements Although the cover of this thesis contains only my name, there is a big list of people that also deserve to be mentioned here, those who have encouraged me over the years and who have made this possible. I want to express my gratitude to them: -My PhD supervisor, David Ron. He gave me the opportunity to join his lab as a Research Assistant, and his contagious passion for science motivated me to pursue this PhD. He has always been willing to teach, explain, listen and discuss. He has taught me how to love (and fight) science, even when confronting hard situations. -The colleagues from the lab. They have created an amazing atmosphere and thanks to them I have learnt what “team work” means (either to share reagents or to organise international dinners). I want extend a special thanks to Ruming and Claudia, who started the work on the phosphatase and taught me everything they knew about it; and to Steffen, for his continuous advice and essential help, especially during the writing of this thesis. Thanks to Yahui Yan for her help during the crystallization attempts and David Winpenny for his help with the TR-FRET assay. I am grateful to all members of the Ron lab, because I have met not only amazing professionals, but also good friends (that’s why they could also be included in the next group). -My friends. They have been extremely supportive and have made me enjoy these years inside and outside of the lab. I want to say a special big thank to Raquel, for restoring my energies when I needed it the most, through the long hours spent on the phone and the brief (but vital) meetings; and Belen, for the good moments spent together and for learning about science just to understand me. -My partner, Santi. He has listened so much about this project that he would be prepared to give a talk about eIF2α dephosphorylation. He has found the way to help me at every single moment (even through special deliveroo services or splitting cells) and his calm and patience have been essential for me. -I want to thank my family, for their faith in me and their unconditional support. Thanks to my sister, for being also a friend and for cheering me up as she has always done. Lastly, I will thank my parents who have always encouraged me to fulfil my 5 wishes, even when it required us to be far from each other. This thesis is dedicated to my grandma (who unfortunately is not here to share this moment) and to my parents, in gratitude for all they have done. (I’ll add this part in Spanish for them) Quiero dar las gracias también a mi familia, por su fe en mí y su apoyo incondicional. Gracias a mi hermana, por ser también una amiga y por animarme como siempre lo ha hecho. Finalmente, quiero agradecer a mis padres, quienes siempre me han empujado a cumplir mis sueños, incluso cuando ha implicado tener que estar en la distancia. Esta tesis se la dedico a mi abuela (quien por desgracia no está aquí para compartir este momento) y a mis padres, por todo lo que han hecho por mí. 6 List of abbreviations 6-FAM 6-carboxyfluorescein ADE1 adenine requiring 1 ADE2 Adenine requiring 2 ADP Adenosine diphosphate AKAP149 A-kinase anchoring protein 149 ATF4 Activating Transcription Factor 4 ATF6 Activated Transcription Factor 6 ATP Adenosine triphosphate AUR Amplex UltraRed BC Binary complex BLI Bio-Layer Interferometry bp base pair BSA Bovine Serum Albumin BxPC3 human pancreatic cancer cell line cDNA complementary DNA CDS CoDing Sequence CHO-K1 Subclone from parental Chinese Hamster Ovary cells CHOP CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein Homologous Protein CIMR Cambridge Institute of Medical Research CREB cAMP Response Element Binding protein CReP Constitutive Reverter of eIF2a Phosphorylation CRISPR Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats CryoEM Electron CryoMicroscopy CUEDC2 CUE (Coupling of ubiquitin conjugation to ER degradation) Domain-Containing 2 DMSO DiMethyl SulfOxide DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid DNAse I Deoxyribonuclease I DTT DiThioThreitol E Enzyme E. coli Escherichia coli EC50 half maximal Effective Concentration EDTA EthyleneDiamineteTraacetic Acid EGTA Ethylene Glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-Tetraacetic Acid 7 eIF2 eukaryiotic translation Initiation Factor 2 eIF2α α subunit of eIF2 eIF2B eukaryiotic translation Initiation Factor 2B ELISA Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay ER Endoplasmic Reticulum ES Enzyme-Substrate complex F-actin Filamentous actin FALS Familial Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis G1/S Gap 1 / Synthetic phase G-actin Globular actin GADD34 Growth Arrest and DNA Damage Gene 34 GCN2 General Control Non de-repressible 2 GDP Guanosine DiPhosphate GFP Green Fluorescence Protein GSH Glutathione GSK GlaxoSmithKline GST Glutathione S-Transferase GTP Guanosine TriPhosphate HDR Homology Directed Repair HPLC High-Performance Liquid Chromatography HRI Heme-Regulated Inhibitor eIF2α kinase HRP HorseRadish Peroxidase HTS High Throughput Screening iBAQ intensity Based Absolute Quant IC50 half maximal Inhibitory Concentration IKK Inhibitor Of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Kinase IPTG IsoPropyl β-D-1-ThioGalactopyranoside IRE1 Inositol-REquiring protein 1 ISR Integrated Stress Response ISRIB Integrated Stress Response InhiBitor ITC Isothermal Titration Calorimetry Kd dissociation constant KO Knock Out KVxF amino acid sequence: Lysine(K),