SCF and Cullin/RING H2-based ubiquitin ligases

Protein degradation is deployed to modulate the steady-state abundance of proteins and to switch cellular regulatory circuits from one state to another by abrupt elimination of control proteins. In eukaryotes, the bulk of the protein degradation that occurs in the cytoplasm and nucleus is carried out by the 26S proteasome. In turn, most proteins are thought to be targeted to the 26S proteasome by covalent attachment of a multiubiquitin chain. Ubiquitination of proteins requires a multienzyme system. A key component of ubiquitination pathways, the ubiquitin ligase, controls both the specificity and timing of substrate ubiquitination. This review is focused on a conserved ubiquitin ligase complex known as SCF that plays a key role in marking a variety of regulatory proteins for destruction by the 26S proteasome

SIC1 is ubiquitinated in vitro by a pathway that requires CDC4, CDC34, and cyclin/CDK activities

Traversal from G1 to S-phase in cycling cells of budding yeast is dependent on the destruction of the S-phase cyclin/CDK inhibitor SIC1. Genetic data suggest that SIC1 proteolysis is mediated by the ubiquitin pathway and requires the action of CDC34, CDC4, CDC53, SKP1, and CLN/CDC28. As a first step in defining the functions of the corresponding gene products, we have reconstituted SIC1 multiubiquitination in DEAE-fractionated yeast extract. Multiubiquitination depends on cyclin/CDC28 protein kinase and the CDC34 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. Ubiquitin chain formation is abrogated in cdc4ts mutant extracts and assembly restored by the addition of exogenous CDC4, suggesting a direct role for this protein in SIC1 multiubiquitination. Deletion analysis of SIC1 indicates that the N-terminal 160 residues are both necessary and sufficient to serve as substrate for CDC34-dependent ubiquitination. The complementary C-terminal segment of SIC1 binds to the S-phase cyclin CLB5, indicating a modular structure for SIC1

Maxwell-Chern-Simons Q-balls

We examine the energetics of $Q$-balls in Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory in two space dimensions. Whereas gauged $Q$-balls are unallowed in this dimension in the absence of a Chern-Simons term due to a divergent electromagnetic energy, the addition of a Chern-Simons term introduces a gauge field mass and renders finite the otherwise-divergent electromagnetic energy of the $Q$-ball. Similar to the case of gauged $Q$-balls, Maxwell-Chern-Simons $Q$-balls have a maximal charge. The properties of these solitons are studied as a function of the parameters of the model considered, using a numerical technique known as relaxation. The results are compared to expectations based on qualitative arguments.Comment: 6 pages. Talk given at Theory CANADA 2, Perimeter Institut

Characterization of p97 mutations causing multisystem proteinopathy support a gain-of-function model for pathology

Valosin‐containing protein (VCP, or p97) is an ATPase essential in numerous protein quality control (PQC) pathways, such as ER‐associated degradation. p97 functions as a segregase, extracting ubiquitylated proteins from membranes or complexes so they can be degraded by the proteasome. However, the complexity of native p97 PQC substrates has stymied the detailed biochemical study of this function. Previously, to address this problem, we developed an in vitro p97 substrate based on an ubiquitin fusion degradation (UFD) pathway substrate, Ub‐GFP, and showed that the unfolding of this substrate by p97 is dependent upon extensive substrate ubiquitylation, the p97 adaptors NPLOC4‐UFD1L, and ATP hydrolysis. Here, we make use of this system, employing an updated version of this substrate, to explore how mutations in p97 that cause multisystem proteinopathy (MSP) affect substrate processing. Previous studies have shown that MSP mutants have higher basal ATP rates than wild type yet cause deficiencies in many p97‐dependent pathways, creating controversy as to whether these dominantly inherited mutations cause disease through a gain‐of‐function or a loss‐of‐function. We have now analyzed seven distinct MSP mutants, all of which showed modestly improved unfolding of our model substrate over wild type p97, providing evidence that the increased ATPase activity leads to a gain‐of‐function. Furthermore, we showed evidence that p97 inhibitors may restore proper p97 function to MSP mutants, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for p97 diseases

Applicability of tandem affinity purification MudPIT to pathway proteomics in yeast

A combined multidimensional chromatography-mass spectrometry approach known as "MudPIT" enables rapid identification of proteins that interact with a tagged bait while bypassing some of the problems associated with analysis of polypeptides excised from SDS-polyacrylamide gels. However, the reproducibility, success rate, and applicability of MudPIT to the rapid characterization of dozens of proteins have not been reported. We show here that MudPIT reproducibly identified bona fide partners for budding yeast Gcn5p. Additionally, we successfully applied MudPIT to rapidly screen through a collection of tagged polypeptides to identify new protein interactions. Twenty-five proteins involved in transcription and progression through mitosis were modified with a new tandem affinity purification (TAP) tag. TAP-MudPIT analysis of 22 yeast strains that expressed these tagged proteins uncovered known or likely interacting partners for 21 of the baits, a figure that compares favorably with traditional approaches. The proteins identified here comprised 102 previously known and 279 potential physical interactions. Even for the intensively studied Swi2p/Snf2p, the catalytic subunit of the Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling complex, our analysis uncovered a new interacting protein, Rtt102p. Reciprocal tagging and TAP-MudPIT analysis of Rtt102p revealed subunits of both the Swi/Snf and RSC complexes, identifying Rtt102p as a common interactor with, and possible integral component of, these chromatin remodeling machines. Our experience indicates it is feasible for an investigator working with a single ion trap instrument in a conventional molecular/cellular biology laboratory to carry out proteomic characterization of a pathway, organelle, or process (i.e. "pathway proteomics") by systematic application of TAP-MudPIT

Charting the protein complexome in yeast by mass spectrometry

It has become evident over the past few years that many complex cellular processes, including control of the cell cycle and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, are carried out by sophisticated multisubunit protein machines that are dynamic in abundance, post-translational modification state, and composition. To understand better the nature of the macromolecular assemblages that carry out the cell cycle and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, we have used mass spectrometry extensively over the past few years to characterize both the composition of various protein complexes and the modification states of their subunits. In this article we review some of our recent efforts, and describe a promising new approach for using mass spectrometry to dissect protein interaction networks

Designer Reagents for Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics: Clickable Cross-Linkers for Elucidation of Protein Structures and Interactions

We present novel homobifunctional amine-reactive clickable cross-linkers (CXLs) for investigation of three-dimensional protein structures and protein–protein interactions (PPIs). CXLs afford consolidated advantages not previously available in a simple cross-linker, including (1) their small size and cationic nature at physiological pH, resulting in good water solubility and cell-permeability, (2) an alkyne group for bio-orthogonal conjugation to affinity tags via the click reaction for enrichment of cross-linked peptides, (3) a nucleophilic displacement reaction involving the 1,2,3-triazole ring formed in the click reaction, yielding a lock-mass reporter ion for only clicked peptides, and (4) higher charge states of cross-linked peptides in the gas-phase for augmented electron transfer dissociation (ETD) yields. Ubiquitin, a lysine-abundant protein, is used as a model system to demonstrate structural studies using CXLs. To validate the sensitivity of our approach, biotin-azide labeling and subsequent enrichment of cross-linked peptides are performed for cross-linked ubiquitin digests mixed with yeast cell lysates. Cross-linked peptides are detected and identified by collision induced dissociation (CID) and ETD with linear quadrupole ion trap (LTQ)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) and LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometers. The application of CXLs to more complex systems (e.g., in vivo cross-linking) is illustrated by Western blot detection of Cul1 complexes including known binders, Cand1 and Skp2, in HEK 293 cells, confirming good water solubility and cell-permeability

Characterization of p97 mutations causing multisystem proteinopathy support a gain-of-function model for pathology

Valosin‐containing protein (VCP, or p97) is an ATPase essential in numerous protein quality control (PQC) pathways, such as ER‐associated degradation. p97 functions as a segregase, extracting ubiquitylated proteins from membranes or complexes so they can be degraded by the proteasome. However, the complexity of native p97 PQC substrates has stymied the detailed biochemical study of this function. Previously, to address this problem, we developed an in vitro p97 substrate based on an ubiquitin fusion degradation (UFD) pathway substrate, Ub‐GFP, and showed that the unfolding of this substrate by p97 is dependent upon extensive substrate ubiquitylation, the p97 adaptors NPLOC4‐UFD1L, and ATP hydrolysis. Here, we make use of this system, employing an updated version of this substrate, to explore how mutations in p97 that cause multisystem proteinopathy (MSP) affect substrate processing. Previous studies have shown that MSP mutants have higher basal ATP rates than wild type yet cause deficiencies in many p97‐dependent pathways, creating controversy as to whether these dominantly inherited mutations cause disease through a gain‐of‐function or a loss‐of‐function. We have now analyzed seven distinct MSP mutants, all of which showed modestly improved unfolding of our model substrate over wild type p97, providing evidence that the increased ATPase activity leads to a gain‐of‐function. Furthermore, we showed evidence that p97 inhibitors may restore proper p97 function to MSP mutants, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for p97 diseases