Determinants of 14-3-3σ dimerization and function in drug and radiation resistance

Abstract

Many proteins exist and function as homodimers. Understanding the detailed mechanism driving the homodimerization is important and will impact future studies targeting the “undruggable” oncogenic protein dimers. In this study, we used 14-3-3σ as a model homodimeric protein and performed a systematic investigation of the potential roles of amino acid residues in the interface for homodimerization. Unlike other members of the conserved 14-3-3 protein family, 14-3-3σ prefers to form a homodimer with two subareas in the dimeric interface that has 180° symmetry. We found that both subareas of the dimeric interface are required to maintain full dimerization activity. Although the interfacial hydrophobic core residues Leu12 and Tyr84 play important roles in 14-3-3σ dimerization, the non-core residue Phe25 appears to be more important in controlling 14-3-3σ dimerization activity. Interestingly, a similar non-core residue (Val81) is less important than Phe25 in contributing to 14-3-3σ dimerization. Furthermore, dissociating dimeric 14-3-3σ into monomers by mutating the Leu12, Phe25, or Tyr84 dimerization residue individually diminished the function of 14-3-3σ in resisting drug-induced apoptosis and in arresting cells at G2/M phase in response to DNA-damaging treatment. Thus, dimerization appears to be required for the function of 14-3-3σ.