We have named this region the SPX domain after SYG1, Pho81 and XPR1. This 180 residue long domain is found at the amino terminus of a variety of proteins. In the yeast protein SYG1, the N-terminus directly binds to the G-protein beta subunit and inhibits transduction of the mating pheromone signal [3]. Similarly, the N-terminus of the human XPR1 protein binds directly to the beta subunit of the G-protein heterotrimer leading to increased production of cAMP. These findings suggest that all the members of this family are involved in G-protein associated signal transduction. The N-termini of several proteins involved in the regulation of phosphate transport, including the putative phosphate level sensors PHO81 Swiss:P17442 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and NUC-2 Swiss:Q01317 from Neurospora crassa, are also members of this family [4,5]. The SPX domain of S. cerevisiae low-affinity phosphate transporters Pho87 and Pho90 auto-regulates uptake and prevents efflux. This SPX dependent inhibition is mediated by the physical interaction with Spl2 [6] NUC-2 contains several ankyrin repeats Pfam:PF00023. Several members of this family are annotated as XPR1 proteins: the xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor confers susceptibility to infection with murine xenotropic and polytropic leukaemia viruses (MLV) [1]. Infection by these retroviruses can inhibit XPR1-mediated cAMP signalling and result in cell toxicity and death [7]. The similarity between SYG1, phosphate regulators and XPR1 sequences has been previously noted, as has the additional similarity to several predicted proteins, of unknown function, from Drosophila melanogaster, Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and many other diverse organisms [1,2,6,7]. In addition, given the similarities between XPR1 and SYG1 and phosphate regulatory proteins, it has been proposed that XPR1 might be involved in G-protein associated signal transduction and may itself function as a phosphate sensor [1].

1: A human cell-surface receptor for xenotropic and polytropic murine leukemia viruses: possible role in G protein-coupled signal transduction. Battini JL, Rasko JE, Miller AD; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999;96:1385-1390. PMID:9990033

2: Cloning and characterization of a cell surface receptor for xenotropic and polytropic murine leukemia viruses. Tailor CS, Nouri A, Lee CG, Kozak C, Kabat D; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999;96:927-932. PMID:9927670

3: Truncated forms of a novel yeast protein suppress the lethality of a G protein alpha subunit deficiency by interacting with the beta subunit. Spain BH, Koo D, Ramakrishnan M, Dzudzor B, Colicelli J; J Biol Chem 1995;270:25435-25444. PMID:7592711

4: Signaling phosphate starvation. Lenburg ME, O'Shea EK; Trends Biochem Sci 1996;21:383-387. PMID:8918192

5: Regulation of the Pcl7-Pho85 cyclin-cdk complex by Pho81. Lee M, O'Regan S, Moreau JL, Johnson AL, Johnston LH, Goding CR; Mol Microbiol 2000;38:411-422. PMID:11069666

6: The SPX domain of the yeast low-affinity phosphate transporter Pho90 regulates transport activity. Hurlimann HC, Pinson B, Stadler-Waibel M, Zeeman SC, Freimoser FM; EMBO Rep. 2009; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:19590579

7: Xpr1 is an atypical G-protein-coupled receptor that mediates xenotropic and polytropic murine retrovirus neurotoxicity. Vaughan AE, Mendoza R, Aranda R, Battini JL, Miller AD; J Virol. 2012;86:1661-1669. PMID:22090134