Distinct patterns of activation-dependent changes in conformational mobility between ERK1 and ERK2

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange measurements by mass spectrometry (HX-MS) can be used to report localized conformational mobility within folded proteins, where exchange predominantly occurs through low energy fluctuations in structure, allowing transient solvent exposure. Changes in conformational mobility may impact protein function, even in cases where structural changes are unobservable. Previous studies of the MAP kinase, ERK2, revealed increases in HX upon activation occured at the hinge between conserved N- and C-terminal domains, which could be ascribed to enhanced backbone flexibility. This implied that kinase activation modulates interdomain closure, and was supported by evidence for two modes of nucleotide binding that were consistent with closed vs open conformations in active vs inactive forms of ERK2, respectively. Thus, phosphorylation of ERK2 releases constraints to interdomain closure, by modulating hinge flexibility. In this study, we examined ERK1, which shares 90% sequence identity with ERK2. HX-MS measurements of ERK1 showed similarities with ERK2 in overall deuteration, consistent with their similar tertiary structures. However, the patterns of HX that were altered upon activation of ERK1 differed from those in ERK2. In particular, alterations in HX at the hinge region upon activation of ERK2 did not occur in ERK1, suggesting that the two enzymes differ with respect to their regulation of hinge mobility and interdomain closure. In agreement, HX-MS measurements of nucleotide binding suggested revealed domain closure in both inactive and active forms of ERK1. We conclude that although ERK1 and ERK2 are closely related with respect to primary sequence and tertiary structure, they utilize distinct mechanisms for controlling enzyme function through interdomain interactions.