Research hypothesis

The c-Kit controls major signaling cascades in hematopoietic stem cells. Earlier study indicated that the catalytic domain of c-Kit consists of many important loop regions, such as catalytic loop (786-796), activation loop (810-839) and substrate-binding loop (829-837), which play crucial role in the activation of Kit kinase domain [1]. Transformation of c-Kit kinase domain from an inactive to hyperactive state is reported to occur on the basis of three distinct molecular phenomena. These are (i) binding of ATP to glycine rich loop residues (596-601), (ii) release of self-inhibitory interaction between substrate binding loop and activation loop, and (iii) loss of intramolecular H-bonds between Lys818-Asp816 and Asn819-Asp816 [1].

Binding of stem cell factor (SCF) to its receptors triggers dimerization coupled transphosphorylation of c-Kit catalytic domain [2–4], which then emerges with a dual phosphorylated tyrosine containing conserved motif (Y⁵⁶⁸V⁵⁶⁹Y⁵⁷⁰) in human c-Kit [5]. Interestingly, this motif acts as a common docking site for SH2 and SH3 domain containing proteins [6]. The adaptor protein APS, Src family of kinases and Shp-2 tyrosine phosphatase bind to Y⁵⁶⁸. Similarly, Shp-1 tyrosine phosphatase and the adaptor protein Shc bind to Y⁵⁷⁰; whereas, C-terminal Src homologous kinase (Chk) and the adaptor Shc bind to both Y⁵⁶⁸ and Y⁵⁷⁰ [7]. Shp-1 is known as a negative regulator of various receptors in hematopoietic cells, including c-Kit kinase [8, 9]. Shp-1 and Shp-2 share both sequence and structural homologies [10]. Previous studies have shown that a gain of function mutation, Asp816 to Val816 (a molecular representative of mastocytosis) in Kit activation loop leads to extensive degradation of Shp-1, indicating disruption of Shp-1 and c-Kit interaction [11, 12].

Though SH2 domains of both Shp-1 and Shp-2 are known to interact with c-Kit, the molecular basis of this interaction has not been elucidated. The present study suggests some important residues in Kit activation loop and N-sh2 domain that play crucial role in negative regulation of c-Kit kinase.

Multiple sequence alignment of c-Kit kinase related protein

Activated Kit kinase, triggered either by ligand-dependent or ligand-independent manner, generates several phosphorylated tyrosine containing docking motifs in its juxtamembrane domain. Multiple sequence alignment study showed a conserved regulatory motif "EEINGNNYVYIDP" in juxtamembrane domain of Kit kinase (Fig. 1). Further analysis of "EEINGNNYVYIDP" by Motif scan showed a conserved dual tyrosine residue, which is positioned as Y⁵⁶⁸V⁵⁶⁹Y⁵⁷⁰ in human c-Kit (Additional file 1). These two tyrosine residues, Y⁵⁶⁸ and Y⁵⁷⁰ at positions +1 and +3 act as docking molecule for various kinases as well as SH2 and SH3 domain containing proteins. Amongst SH2 and SH3 domain containing proteins epidermal growth factor receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor, PLCg, N/C-sh2, Abl kinase, Src family kinases and phosphatases (Shp-1 and Shp-2) are important [13–15]. The alignment study also revealed deletion in the above motif (YV deleted at +1, +2 positions) in transforming tyrosine-protein kinase Kit (Swiss prot ID P04048), normally synthesized as Gag-Kit-Pol polyprotein. The crystal structure data of c-Kit also expose Y⁵⁶⁸ and Y⁵⁷⁰ as the primary dual tyrosines to get phosphorylated following in vitro trans-phosphorylation reaction [5]. So they predominantly act as primary docking site in vivo to the downstream signaling molecules. These two residues belong to juxtamembrane switch motif of c-Kit (stretched in 560-571 residues) and is also a part of auto inhibitory JMD (spanning from 553 to 663), which makes a putative α helix. This juxtamembrane segment in c-Kit makes a wedge that stabilizes inactive conformation by preventing rotation of the small kinase lobe towards the large kinase lobe to generate active kinase conformation. Point mutations in this motif are associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, as they abolish the regulation of Kit kinase activity [16, 17]. In Gag-Kit the deletion of "YV" in "EEINGNNYVYIDP" motif and other deleted auto-inhibitory JMD residues before the same motif suggest two possible reasons for its transformation. The first reason could be due to the abrogation of Shp-1 mediated negative regulation, as Shp-1 can not be recruited to YVY. The second reason may be due to change of JMD mediated auto-inhibition of kit kinase to its hyper-activated state [18–20].

Multiple sequence alignment of the ligand: Shp-2 and Shp-1 with SH2 domain containing proteins

To identify the crucial residues in Shp-2 and Shp-1 that can interact with tyrosine kinases, multiple alignments of SH2 domains of phosphatases with other SH2 domain family proteins was performed. The SH2 domains of p85 subunit of PI3 kinase, LCK, HCK, Src and c-ZAP showed conserved phosphorylated tyrosine-binding pockets (PY pockets) comprising of "FLARPS" in N-sh2 and "FLVRES" in C-sh2 domains phosphatases (Fig. 2). PY pockets represented three fully conserved amino acid residues: F, L and R. The functionally important residues in this motif initiate strong decisive interactions between guanidinium group of invariant arginine residue at a conserved position in SH2 and anionic PY phosphate group, as shown in structure of p85 subunit of PI3 kinase [21]. This PY pocket showed 100% conservation of Phe and Arg at +1 and +4 positions, 85% conservation of Leu at +2 and 71% conservation of Ser at +6 positions, respectively in N-sh2 domain containing proteins (Fig. 2). This explains positive role of PY residues in N-sh2 domain interaction. Whereas, LCK and HCK contain 23%, 27%, 25% and 29% conservation of Phe, Arg, Leu and Ser at + 1, +4, +2 and +6 positions, respectively in C-sh2 domain. The position of this PY pocket was then identified in crystal structure of Shp-2 and displayed in Rasmol prior to docking (Additional file 2A). The recognition of phosphorylated tyrosines in c-Kit by SH2 domain, and binding of these tyrosine residues to SH2 domain may occur in a typical "plug and socket" manner. It is similar to SH2 domain bound phosphotyrosine peptides complexes, as shown by NMR and X-ray structural studies [21, 22].

Docking of Shp-2 and c-Kit cytoplasmic domain

The protein docking study was performed using activated/phosphorylated crystal structure of Kit cytoplasmic domain and Shp-2 (which mimics interaction of ligand-dependent or independent activated Kit Kinase with Shp-1 in vivo) [8]. The bound ligand-substrate complexes were generated on the basis of different repulsion values used in the programme and the best chosen values were 6.6 and 6.4A° (Table 1). We also plotted different repulsion values against the distances measured between N-sh2 domain of Shp-2 and an activation loop residue Asp816 (Table 1 and Fig. 3A), as it plays crucial role in maintaining closed or open conformation of Kit kinase domain. The data showed that Ile571 and Val569 of "EEINGNNYV⁵⁶⁹YI ⁵⁷¹DPTQ" came into close vicinity of Asp26 and Tyr100 of N-sh2 domain, whereas Asp816 stayed predominantly closer to Tyr100 of N-sh2 by 4.7A° (Additional file 2B, 3A, 3B). Thus we propose that there can be a possible mode of interaction between N-sh2 and activation loop residues containing Asp816, relevant to the modulation of conformation in activation loop.

Repulsion values for docking (A°)	Residues found closer in Shp-2 bound Kit c-Kit: N-sh2	Distance observed c-Kit: N-sh2 (A°)	Domains interacting
6.6	Ile571-Asp26	8.59	Kit Juxtamembrane and PY pocket
6.6	Val569-Tyr100	7.07	Kit Juxtamembrane and N-sh2
6.6	Asp816-Tyr100	4.68	Kit activation loop and N-sh2
6.4	Ile571-Tyr100	5.66	Kit Juxtamembrane and N-sh2
6.4	Val569-Tyr100	4.46	Kit Juxtamembrane and N-sh2
6.6	Asp816-Tyr100	6.17	Kit activation loop and N-sh2

Repulsion values 6.6 and 6.4 A° show that conserved Juxtamembrane residues and activation loop residues are predominantly closer to N-sh2 domain residues.

Checking of errors in docked complexes

Examining the substrate-bound complexes of Shp-2 is extremely essential while determining the distances between residues of interacting domains. The analysis showed negligible inter-atomic clashes, zero bumping into each other, and very few intramolecular constraints in Tyr100 of N-sh2. To verify hydrogen bonding, we changed the torsion angle from -156.66 to -116.66 between amino group of Tyr100 and the carboxyl group of Asn819, which showed that the hydrogen bonding of 4.76A° converted to 3.67A° (Additional file 3B).

Analysis of protein-protein interaction

The most striking feature observed in Shp-2 bound Kit complex was the presence of a catalytic cleft like structure made of important residues, like Lys786 to Cys 788, Lys818, Asn819, His 790, Asp792, Thr847, Phe 848, Leu 912, Thr916, Lys 918 and Tyr646, which are highly conserved among c-Kit related kinases (Fig. 3B). These residues were found to be in very close proximity to Tyr100, Ala75, Gly76, Glu79, Met82, Gly83 and His85 of N-sh2, therefore expected to interact to form a stable conformation.

Evaluation of hydrogen bonding between catalytic cleft and SH2 domains

Shp-2 bound activated Kit kinase complex mimics the physical interaction between autophosphorylated Kit kinase domain with the SH2 domains of Shp-1, both in vitro and in vivo (Fig 4A). We have detected that certain N-sh2 terminal residues, like Ser28, Ala75, Gly76, Glu79, Met82, Gly83, His85, Tyr100 and Pro101 (Fig. 4B, displayed in red colored balls and sticks) are making distinct hydrogen bonding with the c-terminal Kit kinase lobe residues (Fig. 4B, displayed in violet color balls and sticks). These results showed that residues from Lys818 to Ser821 in Kit catalytic cleft make distinct hydrogen bonding with both PY pocket and N-sh2 domain, for example Lys818 and Asn819 with Tyr100, Asp820 with His85, and Ser821 with Met82 (Fig. 4 and Table 2). Residues from 649-653 of N-terminal Kit kinase lobe were found to make hydrogen bonding with the C-sh2 domain residues. These interactions were detected specifically in surrounding of c-terminal kinase groove (Fig. 4B, in golden yellow) made of Leu783 as the tunnel-making residue inside groove. All the hydrogen bonding detected between conserved catalytic cleft and Kit kinase domains are at 2-3A° in distance. The earlier homology modeling study on Kit kinase has shown that release of auto-inhibition of activation loop is largely dependent on the disruption of intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions between Asp816 with the peptide backbones of Lys818 and Asn819, which transits the activation loop into a more flexible conformation [1].

Positions of residues in substrate (Donor: c-Kit)	Position of residues in Ligand (Acceptor: Shp-1)	Distance of H-bonds in A°
649:ND2	192:O	2.54
649:ND2	193:O	1.12
650:N	192:O	2.03
650:ND1	195:OE1	2.11
650:ND1	195:OE2	2.07
650:NE2	195:OE2	2.98
652:N	195:OE1	1.44
652:N	195:OE2	2.64
653:N	195:OE1	2.56
655:N	200:OD1	2.04
656:N	200:OD1	2.86
671:OE2	196:O	2.27
671:OE2	199:O	2.66
775:NE2	213:O	2.18
782:N	3:OG	2.12
785:OG	3:OG	2.52
785:OG	103:OD1	2.89
802:N	211:OE1	2.27
803:N	211:O	2.68
807:NZ	197:O	2.51
807:NZ	198:O	2.53
818:NZ	28:OG	2.51
818:NZ	100:O	2.83
819:ND2	100:OH	2.50
820:O	85:NE2	2.92
821:OG	82:O	2.03
847:OG1	83:OE1	2.83
847:OG1	83:OE2	2.09
848:N	83:OE2	2.84
849:N	83:OE2	2.19
849:OE2	79:O	2.58
849:OE2	83:OE1	2.49
849:OE2	83:OE2	1.91
915:N	76:OE2	2.49
916:OG1	75:O	2.71

A: Represents hydrogen bonds between activation loop residues and N-sh2 domain residues B: Shows kinase lobe residues preceding c-terminal tail of c-Kit and N-sh2 domain residues

Our study suggest that subsequent loss of the above intramolecular hydrogen bonding, Lys818 and Asn819 of Kit activation loop might be interacting with conserved PY pocket residue (Ser28 and conserved Tyr100 of N-sh2 domain) for physical blocking of activation loop motifs for further interaction.

Multiple alignments of c-Kit

Using protein information resource (PIR) based multiple sequence alignment tool: PIR-ALN, a phylogenetic tree and multiple sequence alignment were generated for c-Kit and its kinase family members [26].

Motifs scan of c-kit cytoplasmic domain

Motif Scan search identified short protein sequence in kinase domain of c-kit motifs that are either recognized by modular signaling domains, phosphorylated by protein Ser/Thr- or Tyr-kinases or mediate specific interactions with phospholipid ligands to initiate c-kit mediated cell specific signaling [27].

Detection of phosphotyrosine binding motifs in SH2 domains of tyrosine phosphatases

The SH2 domain containing proteins were aligned using CLUSTALW for detecting recognition and binding motif in Shp-2, which initiate recruitment of SH2 domains to Kit kinase [28].

Docking study on c-Kit and Shp-2 interactions and visualization

We have used GRAMM (Global Range Molecular Matching) program to generate Shp-2 bound Kit kinase complexes and predicted H-bond interactions between them. The principle and the methodology of GRAMM are available at the web address http://vakser.bioinformatics.ku.edu/resources/gramm/gramm1/install/readme.pdf. Different repulsion values were applied during docking to determine the best fit complexes (Fig. 3). These repulsion values in A° were determined by three factors, r_ij (distance between ligand and receptor), U (energy of repulsion) and R, "range" of the potential (the grid step) using the mathematical relationship [29, 30], as shown in the Additional file 5. Distances lesser than 10A°, between important residues (within the predicted interactive zones), decided the best positioning of two proteins for further analysis (Fig. 3). We have used crystal structure of Shp-2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase), 2shp, a full length structural relative of Shp-1, solved at a resolution of 2A°) [13] and activated crystal structure of human c-Kit cytoplasmic domain (PDB: 1pkg; solved at a resolution of 2.9A° as ligand and substrate) [5]. Analysis of models for the number of inter/intra-molecular clashes, formation of hydrogen bonding and visualization of model images were done by VMD programme.