Signalosomes are large supramolecular protein complexes that undergo clustering (oligomerisation or polymerisation) and/or colloidal phase separation to form biomolecular condensates that increase the local concentration and signalling activity of the individual components. They are an example of molecular self-assembly and self-organisation in cell biology.
Wnt signalosome: Transduction of Wnt signals from the plasma membrane depends on clustering of LRP6 receptors with Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins to recruit the Axin complex for inactivation. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
B-cell receptor (BCR) signalosome: The B-cell receptor (BCR) binds antigen and undergoes clustering to induce signal transduction. [8] [9]
T-cell receptor (TCR) signalosome: Antigen presentation to T-cells is recognised by the T-cell receptor (TCR), which initiates clustering and activation of downstream signalling to induce T-cell responses. [10]
COP9 signalosome: Catalyses the hydrolysis of NEDD8 protein from the Cullin subunit of Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRL). Therefore, it is responsible for CRL deneddylation – at the same time, it is able to bind deneddylated cullin-RING complex and retain them in deactivated form. COP9 signalosome thus serves as a sole deactivator of CRLs. [11]
RIP1/RIP3 Necrosome: A signalling complex involved in necrotic cell death. [12]
Inflammasomes: The AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasomes are filamentous assemblies that elicit host defense inside cells by activating caspase-1 for cytokine maturation and cell death. [13]
The Wnt signaling pathways are a group of signal transduction pathways which begin with proteins that pass signals into a cell through cell surface receptors. The name Wnt is a portmanteau created from the names Wingless and Int-1. Wnt signaling pathways use either nearby cell-cell communication (paracrine) or same-cell communication (autocrine). They are highly evolutionarily conserved in animals, which means they are similar across animal species from fruit flies to humans.
Catenin beta-1, also known as β-catenin (beta-catenin), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CTNNB1 gene.
Axin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AXIN1 gene.
Proto-oncogene Wnt-1, or Proto-oncogene Int-1 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WNT1 gene.
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LRP5 gene. LRP5 is a key component of the LRP5/LRP6/Frizzled co-receptor group that is involved in canonical Wnt pathway. Mutations in LRP5 can lead to considerable changes in bone mass. A loss-of-function mutation causes osteoporosis pseudoglioma syndrome with a decrease in bone mass, while a gain-of-function mutation causes drastic increases in bone mass.
Segment polarity protein dishevelled homolog DVL-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DVL1 gene.
Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LRP6 gene. LRP6 is a key component of the LRP5/LRP6/Frizzled co-receptor group that is involved in canonical Wnt pathway.
COP9 signalosome complex subunit 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COPS2 gene. It encodes a subunit of the COP9 signalosome.
Cullin 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CUL3 gene.
COP9 signalosome complex subunit 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COPS3 gene. It encodes a subunit of the COP9 signalosome.
COP9 signalosome complex subunit 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COPS4 gene.
COP9 signalosome complex subunit 8 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COPS8 gene.
COP9 signalosome complex subunit 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GPS1 gene.
Segment polarity protein dishevelled homolog DVL-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DVL2 gene.
COP9 signalosome complex subunit 7a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COPS7A gene.
Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 is an enzyme that is encoded by the RIPK3 gene in humans.
Dickkopf-related protein 2 is a protein in the Dickkopf family that in humans is encoded by the DKK2 gene.
Dishevelled (Dsh) is a family of proteins involved in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling pathways. Dsh is a cytoplasmic phosphoprotein that acts directly downstream of frizzled receptors. It takes its name from its initial discovery in flies, where a mutation in the dishevelled gene was observed to cause improper orientation of body and wing hairs. There are vertebrate homologs in zebrafish, Xenopus (Xdsh), mice and humans. Dsh relays complex Wnt signals in tissues and cells, in normal and abnormal contexts. It is thought to interact with the SPATS1 protein when regulating the Wnt Signalling pathway.
COP9 signalosome (CSN) is a protein complex with isopeptidase activity. It catalyses the hydrolysis of NEDD8 protein from the cullin subunit of Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRL). Therefore, it is responsible for CRL deneddylation – at the same time, it is able to bind denedyllated cullin-RING complex and retain them in deactivated form. COP9 signalosome thus serves as a sole deactivator of CRLs. The complex was originally identified in plants, and subsequently found in all eukaryotic organisms including human. Human COP9 signalosome consists of 8 subunits - CSN1, CSN2, CSN3, CSN4, CSN5, CSN6, CSN7, CSN8. All are essential for full function of the complex and mutation in some of them is lethal in mice.
In biochemistry, biomolecular condensates are a class of membrane-less organelles and organelle subdomains, which carry out specialized functions within the cell. Unlike many organelles, biomolecular condensate composition is not controlled by a bounding membrane. Instead, condensates can form and maintain organization through a range of different processes, the most well-known of which is phase separation of proteins, RNA and other biopolymers into either colloidal emulsions, gels, liquid crystals, solid crystals or aggregates within cells.