Inter-subunit Crosstalk via PDZ Synergistically Governs Allosteric Activation of Proapoptotic HtrA2

Mitochondrial serine protease - High temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2), is associated with various diseases including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Despite availability of structural details, the reports on HtrA29s mechanistic regulation that varies with the type of activation signals still remain non-concordant. To expound the role of regulatory PDZ domains in promoting synergistic coordination between HtrA2 subunits, we generated heterotrimeric HtrA2 variants comprising different numbers of PDZs and/or active-site mutations. Sequential deletion of PDZs from the trimeric ensemble significantly affected its residual activity in a way that proffered a hypothesis advocating intermolecular allosteric crosstalk via PDZ domains in trimeric HtrA2. Furthermore, structural and computational snapshots affirmed the role of PDZs in secondary structural element formation and coordinated reorganization of the N-terminal region and regulatory loops. Therefore, apart from providing cues for devising structure-guided therapeutic strategies, this study establishes a working model of complex allosteric regulation through a multifaceted trans-mediated cooperatively-shared energy landscape.