Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2

Wnt signaling is involved in embryo development and cancer. The binding between the DIX domains of Axin1/2, Dishevelled1/2/3, and Coiled-coil-DIX1 is essential for Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Structural and biological studies have revealed that DIX domains are polymerized through head-to-tail interface...

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Main Authors: Zehua Wen, Lei Wang, Shi-Wei Liu, Hua-Jun Shawn Fan, Jong-Won Song, Ho-Jin Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/19/1646
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author Zehua Wen
Lei Wang
Shi-Wei Liu
Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
Jong-Won Song
Ho-Jin Lee
author_facet Zehua Wen
Lei Wang
Shi-Wei Liu
Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
Jong-Won Song
Ho-Jin Lee
author_sort Zehua Wen
collection DOAJ
description Wnt signaling is involved in embryo development and cancer. The binding between the DIX domains of Axin1/2, Dishevelled1/2/3, and Coiled-coil-DIX1 is essential for Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Structural and biological studies have revealed that DIX domains are polymerized through head-to-tail interface interactions, which are indispensable for activating β-catenin Wnt signaling. Although different isoforms of Dvl and Axin proteins display both redundant and specific functions in Wnt signaling, the specificity of DIX-mediated interactions remains unclear due to technical challenges. Using AlphaFold2(AF2), we predict the structures of 6 homodimers and 22 heterodimers of DIX domains without templates and compare them with the reported X-ray complex structures. PRODIGY is used to calculate the binding affinities of these DIX complexes. Our results show that the Axin2 DIX homodimer has a stronger binding affinity than the Axin1 DIX homodimer. Among Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins, the binding affinity of the Dvl1 DIX homodimer is stronger than that of Dvl2 and Dvl3. The Coiled-coil-DIX1(Ccd1) DIX homodimer shows weaker binding than the Axin1 DIX homodimer. Generally, heterodimer interactions tend to be stronger than those of homodimers. Our findings provide insights into the mechanism of the Wnt signaling pathway and highlight the potential of AF2 and PRODIGY for studying protein–protein interactions in signaling pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-6fb1109bbb544c6aa1752dc0bf70155c2025-08-20T01:47:42ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092024-10-011319164610.3390/cells13191646Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2Zehua Wen0Lei Wang1Shi-Wei Liu2Hua-Jun Shawn Fan3Jong-Won Song4Ho-Jin Lee5College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 64300, ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 64300, ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 64300, ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 64300, ChinaDepartment of Chemistry Education, Daegu University, Daegudae-ro 201, Gyeongsan-si 38453, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of KoreaDivision of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN 38126, USAWnt signaling is involved in embryo development and cancer. The binding between the DIX domains of Axin1/2, Dishevelled1/2/3, and Coiled-coil-DIX1 is essential for Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Structural and biological studies have revealed that DIX domains are polymerized through head-to-tail interface interactions, which are indispensable for activating β-catenin Wnt signaling. Although different isoforms of Dvl and Axin proteins display both redundant and specific functions in Wnt signaling, the specificity of DIX-mediated interactions remains unclear due to technical challenges. Using AlphaFold2(AF2), we predict the structures of 6 homodimers and 22 heterodimers of DIX domains without templates and compare them with the reported X-ray complex structures. PRODIGY is used to calculate the binding affinities of these DIX complexes. Our results show that the Axin2 DIX homodimer has a stronger binding affinity than the Axin1 DIX homodimer. Among Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins, the binding affinity of the Dvl1 DIX homodimer is stronger than that of Dvl2 and Dvl3. The Coiled-coil-DIX1(Ccd1) DIX homodimer shows weaker binding than the Axin1 DIX homodimer. Generally, heterodimer interactions tend to be stronger than those of homodimers. Our findings provide insights into the mechanism of the Wnt signaling pathway and highlight the potential of AF2 and PRODIGY for studying protein–protein interactions in signaling pathways.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/19/1646AlphaFold2PRODIGYDIXbinding affinityWnt signaling
spellingShingle Zehua Wen
Lei Wang
Shi-Wei Liu
Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
Jong-Won Song
Ho-Jin Lee
Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2
Cells
AlphaFold2
PRODIGY
DIX
binding affinity
Wnt signaling
title Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2
title_full Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2
title_fullStr Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2
title_full_unstemmed Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2
title_short Exploring DIX-DIX Homo- and Hetero-Oligomers in Wnt Signaling with AlphaFold2
title_sort exploring dix dix homo and hetero oligomers in wnt signaling with alphafold2
topic AlphaFold2
PRODIGY
DIX
binding affinity
Wnt signaling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/19/1646
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