The WW domain is known to mediate regulatory protein complexes in various signaling networks, including the Hippo signaling pathway. The importance of WW domain-mediated complexes in signaling was underscored by the characterization of genetic syndromes that are caused by loss-of-function point mutations in the WW domain or its cognate ligand. These syndromes are Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome of intellectual disability caused by missense mutation in a WW domain and Liddle syndrome of hypertension caused by point mutations within PPxY motif.
In 2004, the first comprehensive protein-peptide interaction map for a human modular domain was reported using individually expressed WW domains and genome predicted, PPxY-containing synthetic peptides. At present in the human proteome, 98 WW domains and more than 2000 PPxY-containing peptides, have been identified from sequence analysis of the genome.
Because of its small size and well-defined structure, the WW domain was developed by the Gruebele and Kelly groups into a favorite subject of protein folding studies. Among these studies, the work of Rama Ranganathan and David E. Shaw are also notable. Ranganathan’s team has shown that a simple statistical energy function, which identifies co-evolution between amino acid residues within the WW domain, is necessary and sufficient to specify sequence that folds into native structure. Using such an algorithm, he and his team synthesized libraries of artificial WW domains that functioned in a very similar manner to their natural counterparts, recognizing class-specific proline-rich ligand peptides, The Shaw laboratory developed a specialized machine that allowed elucidation of the atomic level behavior of the WW domain on a biologically relevant time scale. He and his team employed equilibrium simulations of a WW domain and identified seven unfolding and eight folding events.
Being relatively short, 30 to 35 amino acids long, WW domain is amenable to chemical synthesis. It is cooperatively folded and can host chemically introduced non-canonical amino acids. Based on these properties, WW domain has been shown to be a versatile platform for the chemical interrogation of intramolecular interactions and conformational propensities in folded proteins.
Bork P, Sudol M (December 1994). "The WW domain: a signalling site in dystrophin?". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 19 (12): 531–3. doi:10.1016/0968-0004(94)90053-1. PMID 7846762. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Hofmann K, Bucher P (January 1995). "The rsp5-domain is shared by proteins of diverse functions". FEBS Letters. 358 (2): 153–7. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(94)01415-W. PMID 7828727. S2CID 23110605. https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0014-5793%2894%2901415-W
André B, Springael JY (December 1994). "WWP, a new amino acid motif present in single or multiple copies in various proteins including dystrophin and the SH3-binding Yes-associated protein YAP65". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 205 (2): 1201–5. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1994.2793. PMID 7802651. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Bork P, Sudol M (December 1994). "The WW domain: a signalling site in dystrophin?". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 19 (12): 531–3. doi:10.1016/0968-0004(94)90053-1. PMID 7846762. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Hofmann K, Bucher P (January 1995). "The rsp5-domain is shared by proteins of diverse functions". FEBS Letters. 358 (2): 153–7. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(94)01415-W. PMID 7828727. S2CID 23110605. https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0014-5793%2894%2901415-W
André B, Springael JY (December 1994). "WWP, a new amino acid motif present in single or multiple copies in various proteins including dystrophin and the SH3-binding Yes-associated protein YAP65". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 205 (2): 1201–5. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1994.2793. PMID 7802651. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Sudol M, Chen HI, Bougeret C, Einbond A, Bork P (August 1995). "Characterization of a novel protein-binding module--the WW domain". FEBS Letters. 369 (1): 67–71. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(95)00550-S. PMID 7641887. S2CID 20664267. https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0014-5793%2895%2900550-S
Chen HI, Sudol M (August 1995). "The WW domain of Yes-associated protein binds a proline-rich ligand that differs from the consensus established for Src homology 3-binding modules". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 92 (17): 7819–23. Bibcode:1995PNAS...92.7819C. doi:10.1073/pnas.92.17.7819. PMC 41237. PMID 7644498. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC41237
Chen HI, Sudol M (August 1995). "The WW domain of Yes-associated protein binds a proline-rich ligand that differs from the consensus established for Src homology 3-binding modules". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 92 (17): 7819–23. Bibcode:1995PNAS...92.7819C. doi:10.1073/pnas.92.17.7819. PMC 41237. PMID 7644498. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC41237
Bork P, Sudol M (December 1994). "The WW domain: a signalling site in dystrophin?". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 19 (12): 531–3. doi:10.1016/0968-0004(94)90053-1. PMID 7846762. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Macias MJ, Hyvönen M, Baraldi E, Schultz J, Sudol M, Saraste M, Oschkinat H (August 1996). "Structure of the WW domain of a kinase-associated protein complexed with a proline-rich peptide". Nature. 382 (6592): 646–9. Bibcode:1996Natur.382..646M. doi:10.1038/382646a0. PMID 8757138. S2CID 4306964. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Bork P, Sudol M (December 1994). "The WW domain: a signalling site in dystrophin?". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 19 (12): 531–3. doi:10.1016/0968-0004(94)90053-1. PMID 7846762. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Sudol M, Bork P, Einbond A, Kastury K, Druck T, Negrini M, Huebner K, Lehman D (June 1995). "Characterization of the mammalian YAP (Yes-associated protein) gene and its role in defining a novel protein module, the WW domain". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 270 (24): 14733–41. doi:10.1074/jbc.270.24.14733. PMID 7782338. https://doi.org/10.1074%2Fjbc.270.24.14733
Macias MJ, Hyvönen M, Baraldi E, Schultz J, Sudol M, Saraste M, Oschkinat H (August 1996). "Structure of the WW domain of a kinase-associated protein complexed with a proline-rich peptide". Nature. 382 (6592): 646–9. Bibcode:1996Natur.382..646M. doi:10.1038/382646a0. PMID 8757138. S2CID 4306964. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Chen HI, Sudol M (August 1995). "The WW domain of Yes-associated protein binds a proline-rich ligand that differs from the consensus established for Src homology 3-binding modules". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 92 (17): 7819–23. Bibcode:1995PNAS...92.7819C. doi:10.1073/pnas.92.17.7819. PMC 41237. PMID 7644498. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC41237
Macias MJ, Hyvönen M, Baraldi E, Schultz J, Sudol M, Saraste M, Oschkinat H (August 1996). "Structure of the WW domain of a kinase-associated protein complexed with a proline-rich peptide". Nature. 382 (6592): 646–9. Bibcode:1996Natur.382..646M. doi:10.1038/382646a0. PMID 8757138. S2CID 4306964. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Aragón E, Goerner N, Xi Q, Gomes T, Gao S, Massagué J, Macias MJ (October 2012). "Structural basis for the versatile interactions of Smad7 with regulator WW domains in TGF-β Pathways". Structure. 20 (10): 1726–36. doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.014. PMC 3472128. PMID 22921829. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3472128
Bruce MC, Kanelis V, Fouladkou F, Debonneville A, Staub O, Rotin D (October 2008). "Regulation of Nedd4-2 self-ubiquitination and stability by a PY motif located within its HECT-domain". The Biochemical Journal. 415 (1): 155–63. doi:10.1042/BJ20071708. PMID 18498246. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Lu PJ, Zhou XZ, Shen M, Lu KP (February 1999). "Function of WW domains as phosphoserine- or phosphothreonine-binding modules". Science. 283 (5406): 1325–8. Bibcode:1999Sci...283.1325L. doi:10.1126/science.283.5406.1325. PMID 10037602. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
PDB: 1PIN; Ranganathan R, Lu KP, Hunter T, Noel JP (June 1997). "Structural and functional analysis of the mitotic rotamase Pin1 suggests substrate recognition is phosphorylation dependent". Cell. 89 (6): 875–86. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80273-1. PMID 9200606. S2CID 16219532. /wiki/Protein_Data_Bank
Verdecia MA, Bowman ME, Lu KP, Hunter T, Noel JP (August 2000). "Structural basis for phosphoserine-proline recognition by group IV WW domains". Nature Structural Biology. 7 (8): 639–43. doi:10.1038/77929. PMID 10932246. S2CID 20088089. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Bedford MT, Sarbassova D, Xu J, Leder P, Yaffe MB (April 2000). "A novel pro-Arg motif recognized by WW domains". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 275 (14): 10359–69. doi:10.1074/jbc.275.14.10359. PMID 10744724. https://doi.org/10.1074%2Fjbc.275.14.10359
Ermekova KS, Zambrano N, Linn H, Minopoli G, Gertler F, Russo T, Sudol M (December 1997). "The WW domain of neural protein FE65 interacts with proline-rich motifs in Mena, the mammalian homolog of Drosophila enabled". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 272 (52): 32869–77. doi:10.1074/jbc.272.52.32869. PMID 9407065. https://doi.org/10.1074%2Fjbc.272.52.32869
Sudol M, Harvey KF (November 2010). "Modularity in the Hippo signaling pathway". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 35 (11): 627–33. doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2010.05.010. PMID 20598891. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Lubs H, Abidi FE, Echeverri R, Holloway L, Meindl A, Stevenson RE, Schwartz CE (June 2006). "Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome results from a missense mutation in the WW domain of the PQBP1 gene". Journal of Medical Genetics. 43 (6): e30. doi:10.1136/jmg.2005.037556. PMC 2564547. PMID 16740914. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2564547
Tapia VE, Nicolaescu E, McDonald CB, Musi V, Oka T, Inayoshi Y, Satteson AC, Mazack V, Humbert J, Gaffney CJ, Beullens M, Schwartz CE, Landgraf C, Volkmer R, Pastore A, Farooq A, Bollen M, Sudol M (June 2010). "Y65C missense mutation in the WW domain of the Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome protein PQBP1 affects its binding activity and deregulates pre-mRNA splicing". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 285 (25): 19391–401. doi:10.1074/jbc.M109.084525. PMC 2885219. PMID 20410308. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885219
Schild L, Lu Y, Gautschi I, Schneeberger E, Lifton RP, Rossier BC (May 1996). "Identification of a PY motif in the epithelial Na channel subunits as a target sequence for mutations causing channel activation found in Liddle syndrome". The EMBO Journal. 15 (10): 2381–7. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1996.tb00594.x. PMC 450168. PMID 8665845. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC450168
Staub O, Gautschi I, Ishikawa T, Breitschopf K, Ciechanover A, Schild L, Rotin D (November 1997). "Regulation of stability and function of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) by ubiquitination". The EMBO Journal. 16 (21): 6325–36. doi:10.1093/emboj/16.21.6325. PMC 1170239. PMID 9351815. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1170239
InterPro: IPR001202 /wiki/InterPro
Hu H, Columbus J, Zhang Y, Wu D, Lian L, Yang S, Goodwin J, Luczak C, Carter M, Chen L, James M, Davis R, Sudol M, Rodwell J, Herrero JJ (March 2004). "A map of WW domain family interactions". Proteomics. 4 (3): 643–55. doi:10.1002/pmic.200300632. PMID 14997488. S2CID 1656676. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Sudol M, McDonald CB, Farooq A (August 2012). "Molecular insights into the WW domain of the Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome protein PQBP1". FEBS Letters. 586 (17): 2795–9. doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2012.03.041. PMC 3413755. PMID 22710169. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3413755
Tapia VE, Nicolaescu E, McDonald CB, Musi V, Oka T, Inayoshi Y, Satteson AC, Mazack V, Humbert J, Gaffney CJ, Beullens M, Schwartz CE, Landgraf C, Volkmer R, Pastore A, Farooq A, Bollen M, Sudol M (June 2010). "Y65C missense mutation in the WW domain of the Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome protein PQBP1 affects its binding activity and deregulates pre-mRNA splicing". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 285 (25): 19391–401. doi:10.1074/jbc.M109.084525. PMC 2885219. PMID 20410308. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885219
Bork P, Sudol M (December 1994). "The WW domain: a signalling site in dystrophin?". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 19 (12): 531–3. doi:10.1016/0968-0004(94)90053-1. PMID 7846762. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Huang J, Wu S, Barrera J, Matthews K, Pan D (August 2005). "The Hippo signaling pathway coordinately regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by inactivating Yorkie, the Drosophila Homolog of YAP". Cell. 122 (3): 421–34. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.06.007. PMID 16096061. S2CID 14139806. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cell.2005.06.007
Zhao B, Kim J, Ye X, Lai ZC, Guan KL (February 2009). "Both TEAD-binding and WW domains are required for the growth stimulation and oncogenic transformation activity of yes-associated protein". Cancer Research. 69 (3): 1089–98. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-2997. PMID 19141641. https://doi.org/10.1158%2F0008-5472.CAN-08-2997
Kang SG, Zhou G, Yang P, Liu Y, Sun B, Huynh T, Meng H, Zhao L, Xing G, Chen C, Zhao Y, Zhou R (September 2012). "Molecular mechanism of pancreatic tumor metastasis inhibition by Gd@C82(OH)22 and its implication for de novo design of nanomedicine". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (38): 15431–6. Bibcode:2012PNAS..10915431K. doi:10.1073/pnas.1204600109. PMC 3458392. PMID 22949663. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3458392
Kang SG, Huynh T, Zhou R (2012). "Non-destructive inhibition of metallofullerenol Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) on WW domain: implication on signal transduction pathway". Scientific Reports. 2: 957. Bibcode:2012NatSR...2E.957K. doi:10.1038/srep00957. PMC 3518810. PMID 23233876. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518810
Kang SG, Huynh T, Zhou R (2012). "Non-destructive inhibition of metallofullerenol Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) on WW domain: implication on signal transduction pathway". Scientific Reports. 2: 957. Bibcode:2012NatSR...2E.957K. doi:10.1038/srep00957. PMC 3518810. PMID 23233876. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518810
Sudol M, Shields DC, Farooq A (September 2012). "Structures of YAP protein domains reveal promising targets for development of new cancer drugs". Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. 23 (7): 827–33. doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.05.002. PMC 3427467. PMID 22609812. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3427467
Crane, JC, Koepf, EK, Kelly, JW, Gruebele M (April 2000). "Mapping the Transition State of the WW Domain Beta-Sheet". Journal of Molecular Biology. 298 (2): 283–92. doi:10.1006/jmbi.2000.3665. PMID 10764597. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Jäger, M, Nguyen, H, Crane, JC, Kelly, JW, Gruebele M (August 2001). "The Folding Mechanism of a Beta-Sheet: The WW Domain". Journal of Molecular Biology. 311 (2): 373–93. doi:10.1006/jmbi.2001.4873. PMID 11478867. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Fuller AA, Du D, Liu F, Davoren JE, Bhabha G, Kroon G, Case DA, Dyson HJ, Powers ET, Wipf P, Gruebele M, Kelly JW (July 2009). "Evaluating beta-turn mimics as beta-sheet folding nucleators". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 106 (27): 11067–72. Bibcode:2009PNAS..10611067F. doi:10.1073/pnas.0813012106. PMC 2708776. PMID 19541614. /wiki/Jane_Dyson
Jager M, Deechongkit S, Koepf EK, Nguyen H, Gao J, Powers ET, Gruebele M, Kelly JW (2008). "Understanding the mechanism of beta-sheet folding from a chemical and biological perspective". Biopolymers. 90 (6): 751–8. doi:10.1002/bip.21101. PMID 18844292. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Jäger M, Zhang Y, Bieschke J, Nguyen H, Dendle M, Bowman ME, Noel JP, Gruebele M, Kelly JW (July 2006). "Structure-function-folding relationship in a WW domain". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103 (28): 10648–53. Bibcode:2006PNAS..10310648J. doi:10.1073/pnas.0600511103. PMC 1502286. PMID 16807295. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1502286
Scaletti C, Samuel Russell PP, Hebel KJ, Rickard MM, Boob M, Danksagmüller F, Taylor SA, Pogorelov TV, Gruebele M (May 2024). "Hydrogen bonding heterogeneity correlates with protein folding transition state passage time as revealed by data sonification". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 121 (22): 1–8. doi:10.1073/pnas.2319094121. PMC 11145292. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11145292
Russ WP, Lowery DM, Mishra P, Yaffe MB, Ranganathan R (September 2005). "Natural-like function in artificial WW domains". Nature. 437 (7058): 579–83. Bibcode:2005Natur.437..579R. doi:10.1038/nature03990. PMID 16177795. S2CID 4424336. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Socolich M, Lockless SW, Russ WP, Lee H, Gardner KH, Ranganathan R (September 2005). "Evolutionary information for specifying a protein fold". Nature. 437 (7058): 512–8. Bibcode:2005Natur.437..512S. doi:10.1038/nature03991. PMID 16177782. S2CID 4363255. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Piana S, Sarkar K, Lindorff-Larsen K, Guo M, Gruebele M, Shaw DE (January 2011). "Computational design and experimental testing of the fastest-folding β-sheet protein". Journal of Molecular Biology. 405 (1): 43–8. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2010.10.023. PMID 20974152. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Shaw DE, Maragakis P, Lindorff-Larsen K, Piana S, Dror RO, Eastwood MP, Bank JA, Jumper JM, Salmon JK, Shan Y, Wriggers W (October 2010). "Atomic-level characterization of the structural dynamics of proteins". Science. 330 (6002): 341–6. Bibcode:2010Sci...330..341S. doi:10.1126/science.1187409. PMID 20947758. S2CID 3495023. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Socolich M, Lockless SW, Russ WP, Lee H, Gardner KH, Ranganathan R (September 2005). "Evolutionary information for specifying a protein fold". Nature. 437 (7058): 512–8. Bibcode:2005Natur.437..512S. doi:10.1038/nature03991. PMID 16177782. S2CID 4363255. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Russ WP, Lowery DM, Mishra P, Yaffe MB, Ranganathan R (September 2005). "Natural-like function in artificial WW domains". Nature. 437 (7058): 579–83. Bibcode:2005Natur.437..579R. doi:10.1038/nature03990. PMID 16177795. S2CID 4424336. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Piana S, Sarkar K, Lindorff-Larsen K, Guo M, Gruebele M, Shaw DE (January 2011). "Computational design and experimental testing of the fastest-folding β-sheet protein". Journal of Molecular Biology. 405 (1): 43–8. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2010.10.023. PMID 20974152. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Shaw DE, Maragakis P, Lindorff-Larsen K, Piana S, Dror RO, Eastwood MP, Bank JA, Jumper JM, Salmon JK, Shan Y, Wriggers W (October 2010). "Atomic-level characterization of the structural dynamics of proteins". Science. 330 (6002): 341–6. Bibcode:2010Sci...330..341S. doi:10.1126/science.1187409. PMID 20947758. S2CID 3495023. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Ardejani MS, Powers ET, Kelly JW (August 2017). "Using Cooperatively Folded Peptides To Measure Interaction Energies and Conformational Propensities". Accounts of Chemical Research. 50 (8): 1875–1882. doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00195. PMC 5584629. PMID 28723063. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5584629