Guanylate-binding protein 1
G protein activity
Nucleotide-dependent farnesyl switch orchestrates polymerization and membrane binding of human guanylate-binding protein 1.
Dynamin-like proteins (DLPs) mediate various membrane fusion and fission processes within the cell, which often require the polymerization of DLPs. An IFN-inducible family of DLPs, the guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs), is involved in antimicrobial and antiviral responses within the cell. Human guanylate-binding protein 1 (hGBP1), the founding member of GBPs, is also engaged in the regulation of cell adhesion and migration. Here, we show how the GTPase cycle of farnesylated hGBP1 (hGBP1<sub>F</sub>) regulates its self-assembly and membrane interaction. Using vesicles of various sizes as a lipid bilayer model, we show GTP-dependent membrane binding of hGBP1<sub>F</sub> In addition, we demonstrate nucleotide-dependent tethering ability of hGBP1<sub>F</sub> Furthermore, we report nucleotide-dependent polymerization of hGBP1<sub>F</sub>, which competes with membrane binding of the protein. Our results show that hGBP1<sub>F</sub> acts as a nucleotide-controlled molecular switch by modulating the accessibility of its farnesyl moiety, which does not require any supportive proteins.