Unveiling the domain-specific and RAS isoform-specific details of BRAF kinase regulation

  1. Tarah Elizabeth Trebino
  2. Borna Markusic
  3. Haihan Nan
  4. Shrhea Banerjee
  5. Zhihong Wang  Is a corresponding author
  1. Rowan University, United States
  2. Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Germany
  3. School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, China
7 figures, 1 table and 2 additional files

Figures

Figure 1 with 1 supplement
Specific purified N-terminal domains are involved in HRAS interactions.

(A) Diagram of BRAF NT constructs. Top panel is full-length BRAF, followed by proteins NT1–4 expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Not shown: 6xHis/MBP tag on the N-terminal of NT proteins. …

Figure 1—source data 1

(Panel b) Coomassie stained gels of purified NT1–4 and GST-HRAS.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig1-data1-v1.zip
Figure 1—source data 2

(Panel c) Western blot of HRAS-GMPPNP or HRAS-GDP pulled down on glutathione resin to probe for NT1 binding.

HRAS probed with anti-GST antibody; NT1 probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig1-data2-v1.zip
Figure 1—source data 3

(Panel d) Western blot of BRAF NT1–4 pulled down on amylose resin to probe for HRAS-GMPPNP binding.

HRAS probed with anti-GST antibody; NT1 probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig1-data3-v1.zip
Figure 1—figure supplement 1
SEC of active GST-HRAS.

(A) GST-HRAS monomer is ~45 kDa and elutes as a dimer at ~90 kDa. HRAS elution profile (green) on a Superdex 200 (Cytiva) overlayed with protein size standard elution profile (gray) labeled in kDa.

Figure 2 with 3 supplements
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) reveals conformational changes of BRAF N-terminal domains in response to active HRAS binding.

(A, C) Representative NT2 (A) and NT3 (C) peptides identified from HDX-MS in the absence (blue) and presence (pink) of HRAS. Peptides with ‘no difference’ in H-D exchange rate are consistent in both …

Figure 2—figure supplement 1
Stripe plots for peptides identified in BRAF NT2 (A) and BRAF NT3 (B).

Peptide coverage shown begins at the start of BRAF NT2 or BRAF NT3 (not shown: coverage for MBP-tag N-terminal to the BRAF sequence). (C) Protein sequences used in MS analysis.

Figure 2—figure supplement 2
Peptides from NT3 in the cysteine rich domain (CRD) region.

(A, C, E, G) Plots on left represent peptides that could have slowed deuterium exchange rate. (B, D, F, H) Plots on right represent peptides in the same region that show essentially no change. Blue …

Figure 2—figure supplement 3
Peptides from NT2 in the BRAF specific region (BSR) (amino acids 82–99).

(A-C) Three representative peptide plots that have increased deuterium exchange rate. Blue = NT2 apo; magenta = NT2+HRAS. BRAF residues 82–99 correspond with peptide residues 490–507. Gray dotted …

Figure 3 with 1 supplement
BRAF specific region (BSR) in conjunction with the cysteine rich domain (CRD) reduces binding affinity for HRAS.

(A–D) Open surface plasmon resonance (OpenSPR) binding curves of HRAS flowed over NT1–4 immobilized on NTA sensors and the best fit curves (black) produced from a 1:1 fitting model kinetic …

Figure 3—source data 1

(Panels a–e) Kinetic evaluation of 1:1 fits made in TraceDrawer for fitted curves NT2, NT3, and NT4.

Full test preview provided in .txt format for NT2, NT3, and NT4. Excel file of all replicate SPR runs included in this article. Refer to this document for Figures 36.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig3-data1-v1.zip
Figure 3—source data 2

(Panel f) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT1 binding to active GST-HRAS on glutathione resin in a pulldown assay and subsequent competition with NT3.

HRAS probed with anti-GST antibody; NT1 probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig3-data2-v1.zip
Figure 3—source data 3

(Panel g) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT3 binding to active GST-HRAS on glutathione resin in a pulldown assay and subsequent competition with NT1.

HRAS probed with anti-GST antibody; NT1 probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig3-data3-v1.zip
Figure 3—figure supplement 1
HRAS-NT1 open surface plasmon resonance (OpenSPR) shows slow association.

(A) OpenSPR injections of HRAS (111, 333, 660, and 999 nM) at 5 µL/min over His/MBP-NT1 immobilized on an NTA sensor. (B) Western blot of GST-HRAS on glutathione resin and NT1 binding through …

Figure 3—figure supplement 1—source data 1

Western blot of GST-HRAS on glutathione resin and NT1 binding through pulldown assay.

HRAS was first added to resin for 1 hr. After washing to remove unbound HRAS, NT1 was added in a 1:1 molar ratio and incubated at 4°C for 5, 30, and 60 min. HRAS was probed with GST antibody and NT1 with His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig3-figsupp1-data1-v1.zip
Figure 4 with 4 supplements
BRAF specific region (BSR) differentiates the BRAF-KRAS interaction from the BRAF-HRAS interaction.

(A) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT1–4 binding to GST-KRAS on glutathione resin in a pulldown assay. Representative of two independent experiments with similar results. (B) Diagram of the mean …

Figure 4—source data 1

(Panel a) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT1-4 binding to GST-KRAS on glutathione resin in a pulldown assay.

KRAS probed with anti-GST antibody; NTs probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-data1-v1.zip
Figure 4—source data 2

(Panels b–f) Kinetic evaluations of 1:1 fits made in TraceDrawer for fitted curves NT1, NT2, NT3, and NT4.

Full test preview provided in .txt format for NT1, NT2, NT3, and NT4. NT2 data also applies for Figure 4—figure supplement 2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-data2-v1.zip
Figure 4—source data 3

(Panels g and h) Kinetic evaluations of 1:1 fits made in TraceDrawer for fitted curves full-length (FL) BRAF.

Full test preview provided in .txt format for FL-BRAF. Data applies for Figure 4—figure supplement 4b.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-data3-v1.zip
Figure 4—source data 4

(Panel i) Raw data used to plot curves with ExMS2.

Also applies to plots presented in Supplementary file 1.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-data4-v1.zip
Figure 4—figure supplement 1
SEC of active GST-HRAS and GST-KRAS.

(A) GST-KRAS monomer is ~45 kDa and elutes as a dimer at ~90 kDa. KRAS elution profile (green) on a Superdex 200 (Cytiva) overlayed with protein size standard elution profile (gray) labeled in kDa. …

Figure 4—figure supplement 1—source data 1

Coomassie stained gel of GST-KRAS final purification product.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-figsupp1-data1-v1.zip
Figure 4—figure supplement 2
Active GST-KRAS specifically binds to BRAF-NTs.

(A) Binding curves of 1 μM GST-KRAS (active/GMPPNP = blue; inactive/GDP = orange) flowed over NTA-immobilized BRAF NT2 at 30 μL/min. (B) Binding curves of 1 μM GST-KRAS (active/GMPPNP-loaded=red) …

Figure 4—figure supplement 2—source data 1

Coomassie stained gel of GST protein, purified following the same protocol as GST-HRAS.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-figsupp2-data1-v1.zip
Figure 4—figure supplement 3
Characterizing untagged KRAS.

(A) Untagged KRAS is displayed as a monomer with a molecular weight of ~22 kDa including N-terminal linker residues. KRAS-GMPPNP (purple) and KRAS-GDP (green) elution profile on a Superdex 75 …

Figure 4—figure supplement 3—source data 1

(Panel c) Western blot of purified KRAS binding to His/MBP-NT1–4 on amylose resin in a pulldown assay.

KRAS probed with RAS (E8N8L) XP Rabbit mAb (Cell Signaling #67648); NTs probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-figsupp3-data1-v1.zip
Figure 4—figure supplement 3—source data 2

(Panels d–f) Kietic evaluations of 1:1 fits made in TraceDrawer for fitted curves NT2.

Full test preview provided in .txt format for NT2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-figsupp3-data2-v1.zip
Figure 4—figure supplement 4
Full-length BRAF binds specifically to active GST-KRAS.

(A) Coomassie stained gel of purified recombinant full-length (FL) BRAF with copurified chaperone proteins. (B) Binding curves of 1 μM GST-KRAS (active/GMPPNP = blue; inactive/GDP = orange) flowed …

Figure 4—figure supplement 4—source data 1

Coomassie stained gel of purified recombinant full-length (FL) BRAF with copurified chaperone proteins.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig4-figsupp4-data1-v1.zip
Figure 5 with 1 supplement
BRAF specific region (BSR) and cysteine rich domain (CRD) promote BRAF autoinhibitory interactions.

(A) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT1–4 binding to biotinylated His-KD on streptavidin beads in a pulldown assay. Representative of three independent experiments with similar results. (B) Diagram …

Figure 5—source data 1

(Panel a) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT1–4 binding to biotinylated His-KD on streptavidin beads in a pulldown assay.

KD and NTs probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig5-data1-v1.zip
Figure 5—source data 2

(Panels b–f, h) Kinetic evaluations of 1:1 fits made in TraceDrawer for fitted curves NT1 and NT3.

Full test preview provided in .txt format for NT1 and NT3. Data for NT1 applies to curves in Figure 6B and C.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig5-data2-v1.zip
Figure 5—source data 3

(Panel g) Coomassie stained gel of recombinant NT5.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig5-data3-v1.zip
Figure 5—figure supplement 1
MBP tag does not interfere with the interaction between NT1 and KD.

(A) Open surface plasmon resonance (OpenSPR) binding curves of BRAF NT1 without maltose bind protein (MBP) flowed over immobilized BRAF-KD at 30 μL/min in increasing concentrations. Best fit curves …

HRAS and KDD594G disrupt BRAF autoinhibition.

(A) Western blot of pulldown assay of pre-incubated His/MBP-NT1 and His-KD added to purified active GST-HRAS on glutathione resin. Representative data of two independent biological replicates with …

Figure 6—source data 1

(Panel a) Western blot of pulldown assay of pre-incubated His/MBP-NT1 and His-KD added to purified active GST-HRAS on glutathione resin.

HRAS probed with anti-GST antibody; KD and NT1 probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig6-data1-v1.zip
Figure 6—source data 2

(Panel d) Western blot of purified His/MBP-NT1 binding to either biotinylated His-KDWT or His-KDMUT (D594G) in pulldown assays on streptavidin beads.

KD and NTs probed with anti-His antibody.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-fig6-data2-v1.zip
Model of BRAF activation.

(A) BRAF is initially an autoinhibited monomer in the cytosol, in which signaling through the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK cascade is not promoted. The BRAF N-terminal region (NT1; amino acids 1–288), including …

Tables

Appendix 1—key resources table
Reagent type (species) or resourceDesignationSource or referenceIdentifiersAdditional information
Strain, strain background (Escherichia coli)BL21 codon +NEB
Strain, strain background (Escherichia coli)DH5αNEBC2987I
AntibodyAnti-GST (mouse monoclonal)Santa Cruz BiotechnologySC-138WB (1:5000)
AntibodyAnti-RAS (rabbit monoclonal)Cell Signaling67648SWB (1:5000)
AntibodyAnti-His (rabbit monoclonal)Sigma-AldrichSAB5600227WB (1:5000)
Recombinant DNA reagentGST-HRASAddgene55653
Recombinant DNA reagentHis/MBP-KRASAddgene159546
Sequence-based reagentGST-KRAS_ForThis paperPCR primers5’ATCTGGTTCCGCGTGGATCCACTGAA­TATAAACTTGTGGTAG 3’
Sequence-based reagentGST-KRAS_RevThis paperPCR primers5’ CAGTCAG­TCAC­GATGAATTCTTACATAATTACACACTTTGTCTTTG 3’
Sequence-based reagentGST-vector_ForThis paperPCR primers5’ GAATTCATCGTG­ACTGACTGACG 3’
Sequence-based reagentGST-vector_RevThis paperPCR primers5’ GGATCCACGCGGAACCAG 3’
Sequence-based reagentBRAF-RBD_For 1This paperPCR primers5’ CATATGCTCG­GATCCGCGGCGCTGAGCGGTG 3’
Sequence-based reagentBRAF-RBD_For 151This paperPCR primers5’ CATATGCTCGGATCCTCAC­CACAAAAACCTATCGTTAG 3’
Sequence-based reagentBRAF-RBD_Rev 227This paperPCR primers5’ GTTGTAAGAATTCAA­GCTTACAACAC­TTCCACATGCAATTC 3’
Sequence-based reagentBRAF-RBD_Rev 288This paperPCR primers5’ CAAA­GAACTGAATTCAAGCTTACAAATCAAGTTGGT 3’
Sequence-based reagentBRAF-CRD_ForThis paperPCR primers5’ AGCAAATGGGTCGCGGATCCACACACAACTTTGTACGAAAAAC’3
Sequence-based reagentBRAF-CRD_RevThis paperPCR primers5’CGAGTGCGGCCGCAAGCTTACAAATCAAGTTGGTCATAATTAAC’3
Commercial assay or kitEZ-Link Sulfo-NHS-Biotin, No-Weigh FormatThermo FisherA39256
Chemical compound, drugGMPPNPSigma-AldrichG0635
Software, algorithmExMS2https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b01682
Software, algorithmTraceDrawerhttps://tracedrawer.com/
Software, algorithmSEQUESTThermo Proteome Discoverer

Additional files

MDAR checklist
https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-mdarchecklist1-v1.docx
Supplementary file 1

Complete set of peptide plots.

Time-dependent deuterium uptake plots for NT2+/- HRAS, NT2 +/-KRAS, and NT3+/-HRAS.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/88836/elife-88836-supp1-v1.docx

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