The prevalence and significance of PDZ domain–phosphoinositide interactions

PDZ domains predominate in multi-cellular organisms. They are ubiquitous protein-interaction modules recognizing short peptide sequences generally situated at the C-terminal end of plasma membrane proteins. They contribute to the formation and spatial confinement of protein complexes and thereby play an essential role in the control of cell signaling. Recent studies indicate that PDZ domains can also interact with phosphoinositides (PIPs), signaling lipids with key-roles in receptor signal transduction, membrane trafficking, cytoskeleton remodeling and nuclear processes. In particular the PDZ domains of syntenin-1 and syntenin-2 bind to phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2) with high-affinity. Syntenin-1/PIP2 interaction is important for receptor cargo recycling and syntenin-2 plays a role in the organization of nuclear PIP2. In addition, other lower-affinity PDZ domain/PIPs interactions are documented. Here, we summarize and discuss the present knowledge about the occurrence, the biochemistry and the biology of PDZ domain–lipid interactions.