The Molecular Basis and Biologic Significance of the β-Dystroglycan-Emerin Interaction.

beta-dystroglycan (beta-DG) assembles with lamins A/C and B1 and emerin at the nuclear envelope (NE) to maintain proper nuclear architecture and function. To provide insight into the nuclear function of beta-DG, we characterized the interaction between beta-DG and emerin at the molecular level. Emerin is a major NE protein that regulates multiple nuclear processes and whose deficiency results in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). Using truncated variants of beta-DG and emerin, via a series of in vitro and in vivo binding experiments and a tailored computational analysis, we determined that the beta-DG-emerin interaction is mediated at least in part by their respective transmembrane domains (TM). Using surface plasmon resonance assays we showed that emerin binds to beta-DG with high affinity (KD in the nanomolar range). Remarkably, the analysis of cells in which DG was knocked out demonstrated that loss of beta-DG resulted in a decreased emerin stability and impairment of emerin-mediated processes. beta-DG and emerin are reciprocally required for their optimal targeting within the NE, as shown by immunofluorescence, western blotting and immunoprecipitation assays using emerin variants with mutations in the TM domain and B-lymphocytes of a patient with EDMD. In summary, we demonstrated that beta-DG plays a role as an emerin interacting partner modulating its stability and function.