Intramolecular Regulation of Phospholipase C-γ1 by Its C-Terminal Src Homology 2 Domain

Abstract

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) is a key enzyme that governs cellular functions such as gene transcription, secretion, proliferation, motility, and development. Here, we show that PLC-γ1 is regulated via a novel autoinhibitory mechanism involving its carboxy-terminal Src homology (SH2C) domain. Mutation of the SH2C domain tyrosine binding site led to constitutive PLC-γ1 activation. The amino-terminal split pleckstrin homology (sPHN) domain was found to regulate the accessibility of the SH2C domain. PLC-γ1 constructs with mutations in tyrosine 509 and phenylalanine 510 in the sPHN domain no longer required an intact amino-terminal Src homology (SH2N) domain or phosphorylation of tyrosine 775 or 783 for activation. These data are consistent with a model in which the SH2C domain is blocked by an intramolecular interaction(s) that is released upon cellular activation by occupancy of the SH2N domain.

We thank Wendy Weinberg, Ronald Wange, and Gibbes Johnson for critical review of the manuscript.