The Eukaryotic Linear Motif resource for
Functional Sites in Proteins
Accession:
Functional site class:
SH3 domain ligands
Functional site description:
The SH3 domain is one of the best characterized protein domains. SH3 domains are involved in a wide-range of important cellular processes including intracellular signaling, cytoskeletal rearrangements and cell movement, cell growth and immune responses. They bind to proline-rich sequences with moderate selectivity. Early studies identified “PxxP” as a core conserved sequence motif for SH3 binding. These motifs are referred to as canonical binders, among which class I and class II ligands are distinguished based on their orientation. Since then, SH3 domains recognizing partners with multiple atypical SH3 binding motifs have also been described.
ELMs with same func. site: LIG_SH3_1  LIG_SH3_2  LIG_SH3_3  LIG_SH3_4  LIG_SH3_PxRPPK_7  LIG_SH3_PxxDY_5  LIG_SH3_PxxPPRxxK_8  LIG_SH3_PxxxRxxKP_6 
ELM Description:
This is the motif recognized by those SH3 domains with a non-canonical class I recognition specificity
Pattern: ...[PV]..P
Pattern Probability: 0.0131729
Present in taxons: Bos taurus Metazoa
Interaction Domain:
SH3_1 (PF00018) SH3 domain (Stochiometry: 1 : 1)
PDB Structure: 2GBQ
o See 26 Instances for LIG_SH3_3
o Abstract
SH3 (SRC Homology 3) domains constitute one of the largest protein domain families with over 300 representatives in the human proteome and 30 in the yeast proteome. SH3 domains are protein recognition modules that typically function in the assembly of signalosomes and signal transduction (Zarrinpar,2003) in signaling pathways, such as cell growth regulation, endocytosis and remodeling of the cytoskeleton. They are small protein interaction modules consisting of only 60 amino acids. At the secondary structure level, the domain displays a beta-sandwich arrangement of five beta-sheets, 3 loops and a short 310 helix (Saksela,2012). The classical SH3 ligand binding site is made up by two hydrophobic pockets and a negatively charged one usually called the specificity pocket, formed by the RT and the n-Src loops.
SH3 domains generally recognise proline-rich motifs forming poly-proline type helices (PPII helixes) when bound to the SH3 (Aitio,2008). Most of the known and well-studied ligands of SH3 domains have the “PxxP” core motif. The ligands that contain the “PxxP” minimal sequence are now referred to as canonical or typical SH3 binding motifs.
Based on the extensive searches for SH3 binding motifs, a classification system was established where Class I (LIG_SH3_1) and Class II (LIG_SH3_2) ligands were distinguished (Fernandez-Ballester,2004). Because of the pseudo-symmetrical nature of the PPII helix, the PXXP-binding site can recognize peptides in both orientations by using two different binding modes. In both cases the prolines make contact with the two hydrophobic pockets, but the orientation of the peptide will be determined by the position of the charged residue binding to the specificity pocket; the motif description is “(R/K)xxPxxP” for class I and “PxxPx(R/K)” for class II (Aitio,2008). A key conserved surface Trp residue in the SH3 binding pocket is known to adopt two different orientations that, in turn, determine the type of ligand (I or II) specifically recognized by the domain. Interestingly, some of the SH3 domains are capable of binding ligands both in Class I and Class II orientation (Fernandez-Ballester,2004). Interestingly, motif binding by at least a subset of SH3 domains seems to be regulated by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) through phosphorylation of a conserved C-terminal Tyr residue within the domain that disturbs motif binding and thus leads to the collapse of the associated signaling networks (Dionne,2018).
The canonical Class I and II motifs are recognized by diverse SH3 domains. However, a large-scale study on human SH3 domains showed that almost half of the investigated domains exhibit atypical binding specificities with no “PxxP” core (Teyra,2017). The hitherto identified atypical SH3 motifs include the “PxxDY” (LIG_SH3_PxxDY_5) (Li,2005; Kaneko,2008; Saksela,2012), different “RxxK-type” motifs (LIG_SH3_PxxxRxxKP_6; LIG_SH3_PxRPPK_7; LIG_SH3_PxxPPRxxK_8) (Liu,2003; Lewitzky,2001; Harkiolaki,2009; Lewitzky,2004), Px[PA]xPR (LIG_SH3_CIN85_PxpxPR_1) (Kurakin,2003; Rouka,2015), and “RKxxYxxY” (Kang,2000). These atypical recognition specificities are usually associated with only a specific subset of the SH3-containing proteins, which often belong to specific processes/pathways.
“PxxDY'' motif binding has only been identified for a relatively few SH3 domain-containing proteins, including Nck1 (P16333) and Eps8L1 (Q8TE68). Nck1 is an adaptor protein functioning in signal transduction between diverse membrane receptors and the cytoskeleton (Li,2001). During the activation of T-cell receptors (TCRs), Nck1 binds to the “PxxDY'' motif of the CD3ε subunit (32317279). In a phage display screening of 296 human SH3 domains only the Nck1, Nck2, Eps8, Eps8L1, Eps8L3 and Eps8L2 proteins were identified as binders of the motif in Cd3ε, indicating that it is highly specific (Kesti,2007). Besides CD3ε, e3b1/abi-1 and US6NL were also demonstrated to have a functional “PxxDY” motif that binds to the SH3 of Eps8 (Mongiovi,1999). Interestingly, two E.coli effector proteins, namely NleH1 and NleH2, have been identified as Eps8 binders. During infection, probably due to being bound by NleH1 and NleH2, Eps8 shows an altered localization pattern within the cytoplasm that might compromise the formation of new microvilli (Pollock,2022).
RxxK-type SH3-binding motifs are specifically recognized by the second (C-terminal) SH3 domains of GRB2 (P62993) and GRAP2 (also called GADS (O75791)) (Liu,2003; Lewitzky,2001; Harkiolaki,2009; Lewitzky,2004), and the two STAM proteins, STAM1 (Q92783) and STAM2 (O75886) have also been described to bind certain RxxK motifs (Kato,2000). RxxK motif-mediated interactions are typically involved in the signaling of T-cell and B-cell receptors, as well as receptor tyrosine kinases. The RxxK motifs are highly versatile: there is a canonical version “PxxxRxxKP” (LIG_SH3_PxxxRxxKP_6) and some variants where the RxxK is preceded by a PxxP motif in an overlapping “PxRPxK” (LIG_SH3_PxRPPK_7)(Harkiolaki,2009) or non-overlapping “PxxPxRxxK” arrangement (LIG_SH3_PxxPPRxxK_8; Lewitzky,2004). There is also a variant described where the R and K residues are placed further apart “RxxxxK” (Harkiolaki,2009). There is at least one available structure for all these variants, therefore the differences in secondary structures adopted in the bound peptides as well as in the contacts established with the SH3 pockets/residues are well-understood (Harkiolaki,2009). Most known RxxK motif-containing proteins, such as LCP2/SLP-76, GAB1, 2 and 3, B-cell linker protein (BLNK), STAM-binding protein and Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 8 (mUBPY) employ the canonical RxxK for SH3 binding. Some proteins, such as GABs, employ more than one RxxK type, while, for instance, MAP4K1/HPK1 employs the combined motif “PxxPxRxxK” for binding to the C-terminal SH3 of GADS (Lewitzky,2004).
o 10 GO-Terms:

o 26 Instances for LIG_SH3_3
(click table headers for sorting; Notes column: =Number of Switches, =Number of Interactions)
Acc., Gene-, NameStartEndSubsequenceLogic#Ev.OrganismNotes
Q12929 EPS8
EPS8_HUMAN
210 216 NADPSIPPPPRAPAPAPPGT TP 2 Homo sapiens (Human)
Q12929 EPS8
EPS8_HUMAN
215 221 IPPPPRAPAPAPPGTVTQVD TP 2 Homo sapiens (Human)
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
292 298 PARNMAEHIPPAPNWPAPTP TP 4 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
248 254 NMAEHIPPAPNWPAPTPPVQ TP 4 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
206 212 IPPAPNWPAPPPPVQNEQSR TP 1 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
201 207 SMAEHIPPAPNWPAPPPPVQ TP 1 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
159 165 IPPAPNWPAPPLPVQNEQSR TP 1 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
154 160 NMAEHIPPAPNWPAPPLPVQ TP 1 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
112 118 IPPAPNWPAPPPPVQNEQSR TP 1 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
C6UYI3 espF(U)
ESPFU_ECO5T
107 113 SMAEHIPPAPNWPAPPPPVQ TP 1 Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TW14359
P10636-8 MAPT
TAU_HUMAN
213 219 GSRSRTPSLPTPPTREPKKV TP 3 Homo sapiens (Human)
1 
1 
O00499-6 BIN1
BIN1_HUMAN
308 314 SQLRKGPPVPPPPKHTPSKE TP 5 Homo sapiens (Human)
1 
P25049 
TIP_SHV24
132 138 ESWDPGMPKPTLPPRPANLG TP 1 Herpesvirus saimiri (strain 484-77)
1 
P69616 ORF3
ORF3_HEVBU
93 99 HSAPLGVTRPSAPPLPHVVD TP 4 Hepatitis E virus (strain Burma)
2 
P03495 NS
NS1_I72A2
161 167 AIVGEISPLPSFPGHTIEDV TP 5 Influenza A virus (A/Udorn/307/1972(H3N2))
Q14118 DAG1
DAG1_HUMAN
888 894 KGSRPKNMTPYRSPPPYVPP TP 2 Homo sapiens (Human)
2 
P06729 CD2
CD2_HUMAN
294 300 HRSQAPSHRPPPPGHRVQHQ TP 2 Homo sapiens (Human)
1 
P25049 
TIP_SHV24
135 141 DPGMPKPTLPPRPANLGASQ TP 1 Herpesvirus saimiri (strain 484-77)
P69616 ORF3
ORF3_HEVBU
102 108 RPSAPPLPHVVDLPQLGPRR TP 4 Hepatitis E virus (strain Burma)
Q62245 Sos1
SOS1_MOUSE
1135 1141 GTDEVPVPPPVPPRRRPESA TP 1 Mus musculus (House mouse)
Q8R5H6 Wasf1
WASF1_MOUSE
319 325 AGRTPVFVSPTPPPPPPPLP TP 2 Mus musculus (House mouse)
Q12446 LAS17
LAS17_YEAST
216 222 TASAPTTPAPALPPASPEVR TP 3 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker"s yeast)
Q9N2H0 CYBA
CY24A_TURTR
153 159 TIKQPPSNPPPRPPAEARKK TP 2 Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenosed dolphin)
Q9N2H0 CYBA
CY24A_TURTR
149 155 QVGGTIKQPPSNPPPRPPAE TP 2 Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenosed dolphin)
Q9N2H0 CYBA
CY24A_TURTR
154 160 IKQPPSNPPPRPPAEARKKP TP 2 Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenosed dolphin)
O15350 TP73
P73_HUMAN
407 413 HLQPPSYGPVLSPMNKVHGG TP 2 Homo sapiens (Human)
Please cite: The Eukaryotic Linear Motif resource: 2022 release. (PMID:34718738)

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