Ubiquitin-binding proteins: similar, but different

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 49-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrine M. Andersen ◽  
Kay Hofmann ◽  
Rasmus Hartmann-Petersen

Covalent modification of proteins with ubiquitin is a common regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells. Typically, ubiquitinated proteins are targeted for degradation by the 26 S proteasome. However, more recently the ubiquitin signal has also been connected with many other cell processes, including endocytosis, vesicle fusion, DNA repair and transcriptional silencing. Hence ubiquitination may be comparable with phosphorylation in its importance as an intracellular switch, controlling various signal-transduction pathways. Similar to the regulation of the extent of phosphorylation by kinases and phosphatases, specific sets of ubiquitinating/deubiquitinating enzymes control the degree of ubiquitination. A large number of ubiquitin-binding proteins act at different steps in the downstream pathways, followed by the ubiquitinated protein. Different families of ubiquitin-binding proteins have been described. UBA (ubiquitin-associated) domain-containing proteins is the largest family and includes members involved in different cell processes. The smaller groups of UIM (ubiquitin-interacting motif), GAT [GGA (Golgi-associated γ-adaptin homologous) and Tom1 (target of Myb 1)], CUE (coupling of ubiquitin conjugation to endoplasmic reticulum degradation), UEV [ubiquitin E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme) variant] and NZF (nuclear protein localization gene 4 zinc finger) domain-containing proteins appear to have more specialized functions. Here we discuss functional and structural properties of ubiquitin-binding proteins.

2006 ◽  
Vol 399 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Hurley ◽  
Sangho Lee ◽  
Gali Prag

The covalent modification of proteins by ubiquitination is a major regulatory mechanism of protein degradation and quality control, endocytosis, vesicular trafficking, cell-cycle control, stress response, DNA repair, growth-factor signalling, transcription, gene silencing and other areas of biology. A class of specific ubiquitin-binding domains mediates most of the effects of protein ubiquitination. The known membership of this group has expanded rapidly and now includes at least sixteen domains: UBA, UIM, MIU, DUIM, CUE, GAT, NZF, A20 ZnF, UBP ZnF, UBZ, Ubc, UEV, UBM, GLUE, Jab1/MPN and PFU. The structures of many of the complexes with mono-ubiquitin have been determined, revealing interactions with multiple surfaces on ubiquitin. Inroads into understanding polyubiquitin specificity have been made for two UBA domains, whose structures have been characterized in complex with Lys48-linked di-ubiquitin. Several ubiquitin-binding domains, including the UIM, CUE and A20 ZnF (zinc finger) domains, promote auto-ubiquitination, which regulates the activity of proteins that contain them. At least one of these domains, the A20 ZnF, acts as a ubiquitin ligase by recruiting a ubiquitin–ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme thiolester adduct in a process that depends on the ubiquitin-binding activity of the A20 ZnF. The affinities of the mono-ubiquitin-binding interactions of these domains span a wide range, but are most commonly weak, with Kd>100 μM. The weak interactions between individual domains and mono-ubiquitin are leveraged into physiologically relevant high-affinity interactions via several mechanisms: ubiquitin polymerization, modification multiplicity, oligomerization of ubiquitinated proteins and binding domain proteins, tandem-binding domains, binding domains with multiple ubiquitin-binding sites and co-operativity between ubiquitin binding and binding through other domains to phospholipids and small G-proteins.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (4) ◽  
pp. E739-E745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatesh Rajapurohitam ◽  
Nathalie Bedard ◽  
Simon S. Wing

The activity of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system in differentiated tissues under basal conditions remains poorly explored. We measured rates of ubiquitination in rat tissue extracts. Accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins increased in the presence of ubiquitin aldehyde, indicating that deubiquitinating enzymes can regulate ubiquitination. Rates of ubiquitination varied fourfold, with the highest rate in the testis. We tested whether ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) or ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) could be limiting for conjugation. Immunodepletion of the E2s UBC2 or UBC4 lowered rates of conjugation similarly. Supplementation of extracts with excess UBC2 or UBC4, but not E1, stimulated conjugation. However, UBC2-stimulated rates of ubiquitination still differed among tissues, indicating that tissue differences in E3s or substrate availability may also be rate controlling. UBC2 and UBC4 stimulated conjugation half-maximally at concentrations of 10–50 and 28–44 nM, respectively. Endogenous tissue levels of UBC2, but not UBC4, appeared saturating for conjugation, suggesting that in vivo modulation of UBC4 levels can likely control ubiquitin conjugation. Thus the pool of ubiquitin conjugates and therefore the rate of degradation of proteins by this system may be controlled by E2s, E3s, and isopeptidases. The regulation of the ubiquitin pathway appears complex, but precise.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex C. Faesen ◽  
Mark P.A. Luna-Vargas ◽  
Titia K. Sixma

Ubiquitin conjugation and deconjugation provides a powerful signalling system to change the fate of its target enzymes. Ubiquitination levels are organized through a balance between ubiquitinating E1, E2 and E3 enzymes and deubiquitination by DUBs (deubiquitinating enzymes). These enzymes are tightly regulated to control their activity. In the present article, we discuss the different ways in which DUBs of the USP (ubiquitin-specific protease) family are regulated by internal domains with a UBL (ubiquitin-like) fold. The UBL domain in USP14 is important for its localization at the proteasome, which enhances catalysis. In contrast, a UBL domain in USP4 binds to the catalytic domain and competes with ubiquitin binding. In this process, the UBL domain mimics ubiquitin and partially inhibits catalysis. In USP7, there are five consecutive UBL domains, of which the last two affect catalytic activity. Surprisingly, they do not act like ubiquitin and activate catalysis rather than inhibiting it. These C-terminal UBL domains promote a conformational change that allows ubiquitin binding and organizes the catalytic centre. Thus it seems that UBL domains have different functions in different USPs. Other proteins can modulate the roles of UBL domains in USP4 and USP7. On one hand, the inhibition of USP4 can be relieved when the UBL is sequestered by another USP. On the other, the activation of USP7 is increased, when the UBL-activated state is stabilized by allosteric binding of GMP synthetase. Altogether, UBL domains appear to be able to regulate catalytic activity in USPs, but they can use widely different mechanisms of action, in which they may, as in USP4, or may not, as in USP7, use the direct resemblance to ubiquitin.


Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan McBratney ◽  
Mark Winey

Abstract Mutation of either the yeast MPS2 or the NDC1 gene leads to identical spindle pole body (SPB) duplication defects: The newly formed SPB is improperly inserted into the nuclear envelope (NE), preventing the cell from forming a bipolar mitotic spindle. We have previously shown that both MPS2 and NDC1 encode integral membrane proteins localized at the SPB. Here we show that CUE1, previously known to have a role in coupling ubiquitin conjugation to ER degradation, is an unusual dosage suppressor of mutations in MPS2 and NDC1. Cue1p has been shown to recruit the soluble ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, Ubc7p, to the cytoplasmic face of the ER membrane where it can ubiquitinate its substrates and target them for degradation by the proteasome. Both mps2-1 and ndc1-1 are also suppressed by disruption of UBC7 or its partner, UBC6. The Mps2-1p mutant protein level is markedly reduced compared to wild-type Mps2p, and deletion of CUE1 restores the level of Mps2-1p to nearly wild-type levels. Our data indicate that Mps2p may be targeted for degradation by the ER quality control pathway.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 4575-4585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Chang ◽  
Margaret Coughlin ◽  
Timothy J. Mitchison

Poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr), made by PARP-5a/tankyrase-1, localizes to the poles of mitotic spindles and is required for bipolar spindle assembly, but its molecular function in the spindle is poorly understood. To investigate this, we localized pADPr at spindle poles by immuno-EM. We then developed a concentrated mitotic lysate system from HeLa cells to probe spindle pole assembly in vitro. Microtubule asters assembled in response to centrosomes and Ran-GTP in this system. Magnetic beads coated with pADPr, extended from PARP-5a, also triggered aster assembly, suggesting a functional role of the pADPr in spindle pole assembly. We found that PARP-5a is much more active in mitosis than interphase. We used mitotic PARP-5a, self-modified with pADPr chains, to capture mitosis-specific pADPr-binding proteins. Candidate binding proteins included the spindle pole protein NuMA previously shown to bind to PARP-5a directly. The rod domain of NuMA, expressed in bacteria, bound directly to pADPr. We propose that pADPr provides a dynamic cross-linking function at spindle poles by extending from covalent modification sites on PARP-5a and NuMA and binding noncovalently to NuMA and that this function helps promote assembly of exactly two poles.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitendra Negi ◽  
Pothula Puroshotham Reddy ◽  
Chhaya Patole ◽  
Ranabir Das

ABSTRACTThe Baculoviridae family of viruses encode a viral Ubiquitin gene. Although the viral Ubiquitin is homologous to eukaryotic Ubiquitin (Ub), preservation of this gene in the viral genome indicates a unique function that is absent in the host eukaryotic Ub. We report the structural, biophysical, and biochemical properties of the viral Ubiquitin from Autographa Californica Multiple Nucleo-Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV). The structure of viral Ubiquitin (vUb) differs from Ub in the packing of the central helix α1 to the beta-sheet of the β-grasp fold. Consequently, the stability of the fold is lower in vUb compared to Ub. However, the surface properties, ubiquitination activity, and the interaction with Ubiquitin binding domains are similar between vUb and Ub. Interestingly, vUb forms atypical polyubiquitin chain linked by lysine at the 54th position (K54). The K54-linked polyubiquitin chains are neither effectively cleaved by deubiquitinating enzymes, nor are they targeted by proteasomal degradation. We propose that modification of proteins with the viral Ubiquitin is a mechanism to counter the host antiviral responses.


2003 ◽  
Vol 278 (38) ◽  
pp. 35857-35860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Schnell ◽  
Linda Hicke

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Pedder ◽  
Dianne Ford ◽  
John E. Hesketh

mRNA stability, mRNA translation and spatial localization of mRNA species within a cell can be governed by signals in the 3′-UTR (3′-untranslated region). Local translation of proteins is essential for the development of many eukaryotic cell types, such as the Drosophila embryo, where the spatial and temporal localization of bicoid and gurken mRNAs, among others, is required to establish morphogen gradients. More recent studies have suggested that mRNA localization also occurs with transcripts coding for membrane-based or secreted proteins, and that localization at organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum directs translation more efficiently to specific subdomains, so as to aid correct protein localization. In human epithelial cells, the mRNA coding for SGLT1 (sodium–glucose co-transporter 1), an apical membrane protein, has been shown to be localized apically in polarized cells. However, the nature of the signals and RNA-binding proteins involved are unknown. Ongoing work is aimed at identifying the localization signals in the SGLT1 3′-UTR and the corresponding binding proteins. Using a protein extract from polarized Caco-2 cells, both EMSAs (electrophoretic mobility-shift assays) and UV cross-linking assays have shown that a specific protein complex is formed with the first 300 bases of the 3′-UTR sequence. MFold predictions suggest that this region folds into a complex structure and ongoing studies using a series of strategic deletions are being carried out to identify the precise nature of the motif involved, particularly the role of the sequence or RNA secondary structure, as well as to identify the main proteins present within the complex. Such information will provide details of the post-transcriptional events that lead to apical localization of the SGLT1 transcript and may reveal mechanisms of more fundamental importance in the apical localization of proteins in polarized epithelia.


1996 ◽  
Vol 319 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon S WING ◽  
Nathalie BEDARD

Upon fasting, the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system is activated in skeletal muscle in parallel with the increases in rates of proteolysis. Levels of mRNA encoding the 14 kDa ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E214k), which can catalyse the first irreversible reaction in this pathway, rise and fall in parallel with the rates of proteolysis [Wing and Banville (1994) Am. J. Physiol. 267, E39-E48], indicating that the conjugation of ubiquitin to proteins is a regulated step. To characterize the mechanisms of this regulation, we have examined the effects of insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and des(1–3) insulin-like growth factor I (DES-IGF-I), which does not bind IGF-binding proteins, on E214k mRNA levels in L6 myotubes. Insulin suppressed levels of E214k mRNA with an IC50 of 4×10-9 M, but had no effects on mRNAs encoding polyubiquitin and proteasome subunits C2 and C8, which, like E214k, also increase in skeletal muscle upon fasting. Reduction of E214k mRNA levels was more sensitive to IGF-I with an IC50 of approx. 5×10-10 M. During the incubation of these cells for 12 h there was significant secretion of IGF-I-binding proteins into the medium. DES-IGF-I, which has markedly reduced affinity for these binding proteins, was found to potently reduce E214k mRNA levels with an IC50 of 3×10-11 M. DES-IGF-I did not alter rates of transcription of the E214k gene, but enhanced the rate of degradation of the 1.2 kb mRNA transcript. The half-life of the 1.2 kb transcript was approximately one-third that of the 1.8 kb transcript and can explain the more marked regulation of this transcript observed previously. This indicates that the additional 3´ non-coding sequence in the 1.8 kb transcript confers stability. These observations suggest that IGF-I is an important regulator of E214k expression and demonstrate, for the first time, stimulation of degradation of a specific mRNA transcript by this hormone, while overall RNA accumulates.


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