guanosine-triphosphate and Cafe-au-Lait-Spots

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder whose major feature is the occurrence of multiple neurofibromas, which are benign tumors of the nerve sheath. It affects an estimated one in 3000 to 4000 individuals. In addition to neurofibromas, there are many other clinical manifestations, including malignant tumors such as gliomas or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and nontumor effects such as skeletal dysplasia and learning disability. Diagnosis is established on the basis of clinical criteria. Molecular genetic testing is feasible, but the large size of the gene and wide range of pathogenic mutations have so far impeded the development of a clinical diagnostic test. Insights into pathogenesis have followed from identification of the NF1 gene and the development of animal models. The major function of the gene product appears to be regulation of the ras protein. Tumors are believed to arise by the loss of function of the NF1 protein, suggesting that NF1 behaves as a tumor suppressor gene. Heterozygous effects on some cell types are also likely, however. The role of ras in the pathogenesis of tumors in NF1 has suggested an approach to treatment using ras inhibitors, some of which are likely to begin in clinical trials in NF1 patients in the near future.

Topics: Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Cafe-au-Lait Spots; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Female; Genes, Dominant; Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1; Glioma; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Hypertension; Learning Disabilities; Leukemia; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neurofibroma; Neurofibromatosis 1; Neurofibromin 1; Protein Structure, Tertiary; ras Proteins; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Scoliosis

Sprouty-related, EVH1 domain-containing (SPRED) proteins negatively regulate RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling following growth factor stimulation. This inhibition of RAS is thought to occur primarily through SPRED1 binding and recruitment of neurofibromin, a RasGAP, to the plasma membrane. Here, we report the structure of neurofibromin (GTPase-activating protein [GAP]-related domain) complexed with SPRED1 (EVH1 domain) and KRAS. The structure provides insight into how the membrane targeting of neurofibromin by SPRED1 allows simultaneous interaction with activated KRAS. SPRED1 and NF1 loss-of-function mutations occur across multiple cancer types and developmental diseases. Analysis of the neurofibromin-SPRED1 interface provides a rationale for mutations observed in Legius syndrome and suggests why SPRED1 can bind to neurofibromin but no other RasGAPs. We show that oncogenic EGFR(L858R) signaling leads to the phosphorylation of SPRED1 on serine 105, disrupting the SPRED1-neurofibromin complex. The structural, biochemical, and biological results provide new mechanistic insights about how SPRED1 interacts with neurofibromin and regulates active KRAS levels in normal and pathologic conditions.

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Amino Acid Sequence; Cafe-au-Lait Spots; Catalytic Domain; DNA Mutational Analysis; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Guanosine Triphosphate; HEK293 Cells; Humans; K562 Cells; Neurofibromatosis 1; Neurofibromin 1; Oncogenes; Phosphorylation; Point Mutation; Protein Binding; Protein Domains; Protein Interaction Maps; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Signal Transduction