Crystal structure of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase PH domain with phosphatidylinositol

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) of the Tec family possesses a Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, which is responsible for plasma membrane targeting. In this study, the crystal structure of the Btk PH domain in complex with dibutylyl-phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate was determined. The structure revealed that the Btk PH domain forms a homodimer and that each molecule binds phosphatidylinositol in the binding pocket. The side chain of Lys18 within a Btk-specific insertion in the β1-β2 loop is able to form a hydrogen bond with the diacylglycerol moiety of phosphatidylinositol. The other Btk-specific insertion in the β5-β6 loop constitutes the dimerization interface. Thus, the modes of phosphatidylinositol recognition and Btk PH domain dimerization are distinct from those of other PH domains.