The mechanism of activation of the actin binding protein EHBP1 by Rab8 family members.
Rai, A., Bleimling, N., Vetter, I.R., Goody, R.S.(2020) Nat Commun 11: 4187-4187
- PubMed: 32826901 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17792-3
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6ZSH, 6ZSI, 6ZSJ - PubMed Abstract: 
EHBP1 is an adaptor protein that regulates vesicular trafficking by recruiting Rab8 family members and Eps15-homology domain-containing proteins 1/2 (EHD1/2). It also links endosomes to the actin cytoskeleton. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of activation of EHBP1 actin-binding activity is unclear. Here, we show that both termini of EHBP1 have membrane targeting potential. EHBP1 associates with PI(3)P, PI(5)P, and phosphatidylserine via its N-terminal C2 domain. We show that in the absence of Rab8 family members, the C-terminal bivalent Mical/EHBP Rab binding (bMERB) domain forms an intramolecular complex with its central calponin homology (CH) domain and auto-inhibits actin binding. Rab8 binding to the bMERB domain relieves this inhibition. We have analyzed the CH:bMERB auto-inhibited complex and the active bMERB:Rab8 complex biochemically and structurally. Together with structure-based mutational studies, this explains how binding of Rab8 frees the CH domain and allows it to interact with the actin cytoskeleton, leading to membrane tubulation.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Structural Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227, Dortmund, Germany. [email protected].