Abstract
Tetraspanins are cell membrane‐scaffolding proteins interacting with one another and a repertoire of interaction partners. Through these interactions, they form extended molecular networks as tetraspanin webs or tetraspanin‐enriched microdomains. Microscopic data suggest that these networks contain tetraspanin clusters, with poor overlap between clusters formed by different tetraspanins. Here, we investigate the possibility of targeting tetraspanins CD9 or CD151 to clusters formed by the tetraspanin CD81. We find that the δ‐loop from the large extracellular domain of CD81 is sufficient for targeting of CD9/CD151 to CD81 clusters. Moreover, in a pull‐down assay, CD9 coprecipitates more CD81 when it carries the CD81 δ‐loop. In conclusion, the information for forming homomeric CD81 clusters is encoded in the δ‐loop.
Highlights
Tetraspanins are cell membrane-scaffolding proteins interacting with one another and a repertoire of interaction partners
We investigate the possibility of targeting tetraspanins CD9 or CD151 to clusters formed by the tetraspanin CD81
We find that the d-loop from the large extracellular domain of CD81 is sufficient for targeting of CD9/CD151 to CD81 clusters
Summary
Membrane Biochemistry, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Germany. Tetraspanins are cell membrane-scaffolding proteins interacting with one another and a repertoire of interaction partners Through these interactions, they form extended molecular networks as tetraspanin webs or tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. Tetraspanins are a family of small membrane proteins expressed in animals, plants and fungi, with 33 members in humans They act as scaffolding proteins in the cell membrane, forming large interaction networks with one another and other molecules. Tetraspanin interactions partners are diverse, including integrins/ other adhesion molecules, members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, signalling receptors and gangliosides [1,2] This wide repertoire of factors explains why tetraspanins play so many roles in physiological as well as in pathophysiological processes, as cell proliferation, signal-transduction, vesicle trafficking, cell–cell fusion, adhesion, spreading, migration, cancer, infectious diseases and host–pathogen interactions [3,4,5,6,7].
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