Nedd4 is a ubiquitin protein ligase composed of a C2 domain, three (or four
) WW domains and a ubiquitin ligase Hect domain. Nedd4 was demonstrated to
bind the epithelial sodium channel (alpha beta gamma ENaC), by association
of its WW domains with PY motifs (XPPXY) present in each ENaC subunit, and
to regulate the cell surface stability of the channel. The PY motif of beta
ENaC is deleted or mutated in Liddle syndrome. a hereditary form of hypert
ension caused by elevated ENaC activity. Here we report the solution struct
ure of the third WW domain of Nedd4 complexed to the PY moth-containing reg
ion of beta ENaC (TLPIPGTPPPNYDSL, referred to as beta P2). A polyproline t
ype II helical conformation is adopted by the PPPN sequence. Unexpectedly,
the C-terminal sequence YDSL forms a helical turn and both the tyrosine and
the C-terminal leucine contact the WW domain. This is unlike other proline
-rich peptides complexed to WW domains, which bind in an extended conformat
ion and lack molecular interactions with residues C-terminal to the tyrosin
e or the structurally equivalent residue in non-PY motif WW domain targets.
The Nedd4 WW domain-ENaC beta P2 peptide structure expands our understandi
ng of the mechanisms involved in WW domain-ligand recognition and the molec
ular basis of Liddle syndrome.