Structural basis of human VANGL-PRICKLE interaction
Jan. 09, 2025
Dr. Zhe Zhang and Dr. Pengli Zheng published a paper in Nature Communications.
Planar cell polarity (PCP) is an evolutionarily conserved process for development and morphogenesis in metazoans. The well-organized polarity pattern in cells is established by the asymmetric distribution of two core protein complexes on opposite sides of the cell membrane. The Van Gogh-like (VANGL)-PRICKLE (PK) pair is one of these two key regulators; however, their structural information and detailed functions have been unclear. Here, we present five cryo-electron microscopy structures of human VANGL1, VANGL2, and their complexes with PK1 at resolutions of 2.2–3.0??. Through biochemical and cell imaging experiments, we decipher the molecular details of the VANGL-PK interaction. Furthermore, we reveal that PK1 can target VANGL-containing intracellular vesicles to the peripheral cell membrane. These findings provide a solid foundation to understand the explicit interaction between VANGL and PK while opening new avenues for subsequent studies of the PCP pathway.
Original link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55396-3