The Eukaryotic Linear Motif resource for
Functional Sites in Proteins
Accession:
Functional site class:
WDR5 WD40 repeat (central)-binding ligand
Functional site description:
In the nuclei of eukaryotic cells, DNA is complexed with histones into nucleosomes. Post-translational modification of histones regulates their interactions with DNA and other nuclear proteins, and is important for the control of cellular processes such as gene transcription, cell cycle progression and DNA repair. Important modifications include methylation of H3 histones at lysine 4 by Set1/MLL protein family members and acetylation of H4 histones at lysine 16 by MYST protein family members. Activity of these enzymes depends on their assembly in multi-protein histone modification complexes. The WD40 repeat domain protein WDR5 plays a key role in H3K4 methylation and H4K16 acetylation by acting as a scaffold protein for the assembly of the respective core histone methylation and acetylation complex, which are conserved through evolution. The recruitment of different complex subunits by WDR5 depends on distinct motifs in WDR5-binding partners, including the catalytic subunits and the accessory proteins.
ELMs with same tags:
ELMs with same func. site: LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_1  LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_2  LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_3 
ELM Description:
Although all Set1/MLL and KANSL1 homologues from non-vertebrate animals contain a peptide sequence that is very similar to the canonical Win motif, not all of these peptides match the regular expression defined for Vertebrates (LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_1). Instead of making the vertebrate motif variant less specific, a more general regular expression for the Win motif was defined, based on multiple sequence alignments of Set1/MLL and KANSL1 proteins in non-vertebrate Metazoans, mainly insects and worms. The invariant arginine in the vertebrate motif that fits into the central tunnel of the WD40 repeats of WDR5 is also strictly conserved in other Metazoans. The surrounding positions are similar to the corresponding positions in the canonical vertebrate variant of the Win motif. However, in this more general metazoan variant of the motif, most of these positions are less specific as more residues are allowed. This is due to the lack of experimental data validating functional Win motifs in non-vertebrate Set1/MLL proteins and might not reflect the true specificity of the motif in these organisms.
Pattern: [STCA][CSAGV]R[STCAV][EQR][PGALV][LFYHRK]
Pattern Probability: 0.0000276
Present in taxon: Metazoa
Not represented in taxon: Vertebrata
Interaction Domain:
IPR017986 (IPR017986) WD40-repeat-containing domain (Stochiometry: 1 : 1)
o See 4 Instances for LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_2
o Abstract
Chromatin is packaged DNA in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells made up of a complex of DNA and proteins. The nucleosome units forming the higher-order chromatin structure are composed of an octamer of four highly conserved histones around which the DNA is wound. The N-terminal tails of histones undergo multiple covalent post-translational modifications in order to secure gene regulation, such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation and ubiquitylation. Incorrect histone modifications have been associated with developmental defects and different forms of cancer (Bhaumik,2007).
One of the most conserved modifications is methylation of the histone H3 lysine 4 residue (H3K4), which can be mono-, di-, or trimethylated by the KMT2 family of SET domain methyltransferases. Depending on the amount of methylations, different reactions can take place. Hence, a tight regulation of the methyltransferases is essential. Six members belong to the KMT2/SET family (Set1a, Set1B and four mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) proteins) and each possesses a C-terminal conserved catalytic SET domain (PF00856). MLL1 is associated with expression of HOX genes and deregulation of the histone-modifying enzyme MLL1 has been linked to acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia. In mice, a rearrangement of the MLL1 gene leads to defects in hematopoiesis and in skeletal development (Cosgrove,2010).
Full activity of Set1/MLL methyltransferases for H3K4 methylation can only be achieved when these enzymes are assembled in a multi-protein complex. Subunits of this conserved histone methylation core complex include WDR5 (Swd3/Cps30 in yeast), RbBP5 (Swd1/Cps50 in yeast), Ash2L (Bre2/Cps60 in yeast) and Dpy30 (Sdc1/Cps25 in yeast). The WD repeat-protein 5 (WDR5), a WD40 repeat protein forming a seven bladed beta-propeller, is a key protein in this multi-protein complex and is thought to act as a scaffolding protein in the assembly of the histone methylation core complex (Zhang,2012). The catalytic Set1/MLL subunits contain a WDR5-interacting (Win) motif (LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_1, LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_2, LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_3) that binds to an arginine-binding pocket on WDR5 (Dharmarajan,2012). This pocket on WDR5 has also been shown to recognize unmodified, mono-, di-, and trimethylated H3K4 peptides, implying a role for WDR5 in presenting histone H3 tails for modification (Schuetz,2006). In addition, mono- and dimethylated H3K4 peptides were shown to disrupt the WDR5-MLL interaction, suggesting fine-tuned regulation of H3K4 methylation status by a complex interplay between WDR5, MLL and histone H3 (Song,2008).
The WDR5 protein is also involved in recruitment of the accessory Retinoblastoma-binding protein 5 (RbBP5), which binds to the opposite side of WDR5 as the Set1/MLL subunit using a distinct motif (LIG_WD40_WDR5_VDV_1, LIG_WD40_WDR5_VDV_2) (Odho,2010). It has been shown that WDR5 is crucial for full methyltransferase activity, however only in combination with RbBP5 is this activity enhanced. Without the WDR5-RbBP5 interaction, the methyltransferase activity is weakened, leading to the assumption that WDR5 acts as a scaffold protein stabilizing the RbBP5 and MLL1 SET domain interaction with H3K4. RbBP5 is a nuclear protein that, like WDR5, belongs to a conserved family of WD repeat proteins. It contains an N-terminal beta-propeller domain that interacts with the SET domain and an unstructured acidic C-terminal tail containing a WDR5-binding motif. The interaction between RbBP5 and a catalytic SET1 protein family member cooperates with the motif-mediated interactions with WDR5 to assemble a stable and active histone methylation complex.
More recently, WDR5 was found to be involved in acetylation of the histone H4 lysine 16 residue (H4K16), playing a role in the assembly of the NSL (Nonspecific lethal) complex (Dias,2014). This complex contains the catalytic MOF/KAT8, which belongs to the MYST protein family of histone acetyltransferases, and additional subunits, including WDR5, KANSL1 and KANSL2. Similar to its role in histone methylation complex assembly, WDR5 functions as a scaffold protein that binds different subunits of the NSL complex. The KANSL1 subunit conatins a Win motif (LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_1, LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_2, LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_3), while KANSL2 binds WDR5 via a motif similar to the WDR5-binding motif of RbBP5 (LIG_WD40_WDR5_VDV_1, LIG_WD40_WDR5_VDV_2). As the Win motifs in the methyltransferases and KANSL1 bind the same site on WDR5, and similarly, the WDR5-binding motifs in RbBP5 and KANSL2 bind the same site on WDR5, these respective interactions and the assembly of the functionally distinct complexes are mutually exclusive.
o 4 selected references:

o 4 GO-Terms:

o 4 Instances for LIG_WD40_WDR5_WIN_2
(click table headers for sorting; Notes column: =Number of Switches, =Number of Interactions)
Acc., Gene-, NameStartEndSubsequenceLogic#Ev.OrganismNotes
A4V2Z1 nsl1
A4V2Z1_DROME
719 725 PGSDYLCSRARPLVLSEFRK TP 4 Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly)
1 
Q8IRW8 trr
TRR_DROME
2226 2232 AINPSGAARTEPKQRQLLVW TP 1 Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly)
Q18221 set-2
SET2_CAEEL
1290 1296 IPVAAGCSRARPYEKMTMKQ TP 1 Caenorhabditis elegans
P20659 trx
TRX_DROME
3525 3531 EENAYDCARCEPYSNRSEYD TP 1 Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly)
Please cite: The Eukaryotic Linear Motif resource: 2022 release. (PMID:34718738)

ELM data can be downloaded & distributed for non-commercial use according to the ELM Software License Agreement