Destabilization of Ran C-terminus promotes GTP loading and occurs in multiple Ran cancer mutations

Abstract

Ran (Ras-related nuclear protein) plays several important roles in nucleo-cytoplasmic transport, mitotic spindle formation, nuclear envelope/nuclear pore complex assembly, and other diverse functions in the cytoplasm, as well as in cellular transformation when activated. Unlike other Ras superfamily proteins, Ran contains an auto-inhibitory C-terminal tail, which packs against its G domain and bias Ran towards binding GDP over GTP. The biological importance of this C-terminal tail is not well understood. By disrupting the interaction between the C-terminus and the G domain, we were able to generate Ran mutants that are innately active and potently bind to RanBP1 (Ran Binding Protein 1), nuclear export factor CRM1 and nuclear import factor KPNB1. In contrast to previously reported activated Ran mutants, the C-terminus destabilized mutants are hydrolysis competent in cells, support nuclear transport, and do not form nuclear rim staining. Crystal structures show that one of these C-terminal mutations slightly changes its mode of binding to RanBP1. Finally, a high percentage of Ran C-terminus mutations from cancer patients were found to be destabilizing and hyperactivating, suggesting that Ran C-destabilization might be an unprecedented cellular transformation mechanism in affected cancers. This study also highlights a new drug design strategy towards treating patients with hyperactivated Ras proteins including K-Ras.