Uncoupling JAK2 V617F activation from cytokine-induced signalling by modulation of JH2 alpha C helix.
Leroy, E., Dusa, A., Colau, D., Motamedi, A., Cahu, X., Mouton, C., Huang, L.J., Shiau, A.K., Constantinescu, S.N.(2016) Biochem J 473: 1579-1591
- PubMed: 27029346 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20160085
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
5I4N - PubMed Abstract: 
The mechanisms by which JAK2 is activated by the prevalent pseudokinase (JH2) V617F mutation in blood cancers remain elusive. Via structure-guided mutagenesis and transcriptional and functional assays, we identify a community of residues from the JH2 helix αC, SH2-JH2 linker and JH1 kinase domain that mediate V617F-induced activation. This circuit is broken by altering the charge of residues along the solvent-exposed face of the JH2 αC, which is predicted to interact with the SH2-JH2 linker and JH1. Mutations that remove negative charges or add positive charges, such as E596A/R, do not alter the JH2 V617F fold, as shown by the crystal structure of JH2 V617F E596A. Instead, they prevent kinase domain activation via modulation of the C-terminal residues of the SH2-JH2 linker. These results suggest strategies for selective V617F JAK2 inhibition, with preservation of wild-type function.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1200 Brussels, Belgium de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.