Biophysical and structural characterization of the interaction of kidney type glutaminase (KGA) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARg)

• Grant number: 14/19518-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Andre Luis Berteli Ambrosio
• Grantee: Camila Cristina Pascoal
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

KGA (kidney-type glutaminase) is an isoform of mitochondrial glutaminase (GA) - enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of glutamine to glutamate - encoded by the GLS1 gene. This reaction is the first step in the glutaminolysis pathway, a key process for tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) anapleurosis in order to provide biosynthetic precursors for the maintenance of the proliferative phenotype of tumor cells. PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) comprise a superfamily of nuclear receptors that control the expression of several genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. PPAR³ isoform is responsible for regulating the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of various human cancer cells. In addition to their important contributions to the tumor process widely described in the literature, KGA and PPAR³ seem to act as interaction partners, according to studies performed by our research group. Initially, yeast two-hybrid assays have indicated the N-terminal portion of the KGA and PPAR³-LBD (ligand binding domain) as probable interacting regions. Extensive in vitro assays are being performed in order to characterize the nature of this interaction in tumor cellular context. In parallel, the research project here proposed aims to characterize this interaction through structural and biophysical approaches. At first, we propose the identification of the minimal interacting regions of KGA and PPAR³, as well as the determination of the thermodynamic and energetic parameters of the interaction. Then, we propose the structural solution of KGA alone and in complex with PPAR³ using X-ray crystallography. Finally, we will perform in vivo analysis using FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) microscopy. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE GUZZI CASSAGO, CAROLINA APARECIDA; DIAS, MARILIA MEIRA; PINHEIRO, MATHEUS PINTO; PASQUALI, CAMILA CRISTINA; SILVA BASTOS, ALLINY CRISTINY; ISLAM, ZEYAUL; CONSONNI, SILVIO ROBERTO; DE OLIVEIRA, JULIANA FERREIRA; GOMES, EMERSON MACHI; RODRIGUES ASCENCAO, CAROLLINE FERNANDA; et al. Glutaminase Affects the Transcriptional Activity of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) via Direct Interaction. BIOCHEMISTRY, v. 57, n. 44, p. 6293-6307, NOV 6 2018. (14/20673-2, 11/10127-2, 17/11766-5, 16/22246-0, 15/25832-4, 10/13992-3, 14/19518-2, 11/13981-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PASCOAL, Camila Cristina. Evolutionary, structural and mechanistical analyses of the multidomain architecture of the human glutaminases and study of the interaction between glutaminases and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.