Molecular Analysis of the X11–mLin-2/CASK Complex in Brain

Abstract

A heterotrimeric complex containing Lin-10/X11α, Lin-2/CASK, and Lin-7 is evolutionarily conserved from worms to mammals. In Caenorhabditis elegans, it localizes Let-23, a receptor tyrosine kinase, to the basolateral side of vulval epithelium, a step crucial for proper vulva development. In mammals, the complex may also participate in receptor targeting in neurons. Accordingly, phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) and postsynaptic density-95/Discs large/Zona Occludens-1 domains found in X11α and mLin-2/CASK bind to cell-surface proteins, including amyloid precursor protein, neurexins, and syndecans. In this paper, we have further analyzed the X11α–mLin-2/CASK association that is mediated by a novel protein–protein interaction. We show that the mLin-2/CASK calmodulin kinase II (CKII) domain directly binds to a 63 amino acids peptide located between the Munc-18-1 binding site and the PTB domain in X11α. Ca²⁺/calmodulin association with mLin-2/CASK does not modify the X11α–mLin-2 interaction. A region containing the mLin-2/CASK guanylate kinase domain also interacts with X11α but with a lower affinity than the CKII domain. Immunostaining of X11α in the brain shows that the protein is expressed in areas shown previously to be positive for mLin-2/CASK staining. Together, our data demonstrate that the X11α–mLin-2 complex contacts many partners, creating a macrocomplex suitable for receptor targeting at the neuronal plasma membrane.