A SUMO-Dependent Protein Network Regulates Chromosome Congression During Oocyte Meiosis

During Caenorhabditis elegans oocyte meiosis, a multi-protein ring complex (RC) localised between homologous chromosomes, promotes chromosome congression through the action of the chromokinesin KLP-19. While some RC components are known, the mechanism of RC assembly has remained obscure. We show that SUMO E3 ligase GEI-17/PIAS is required for KLP-19 recruitment to the RC and proteomic analysis identified KLP-19 as a SUMO substrate in vivo. In vitro analysis revealed that KLP-19 is efficiently sumoylated in a GEI-17-dependent manner, while GEI-17 undergoes extensive auto-sumoylation. GEI-17 and another RC component, the kinase BUB-1, contain functional SUMO Interaction Motifs (SIMs) allowing them to recruit SUMO modified proteins, including KLP-19, into the RC. Thus dynamic SUMO modification and the presence of SIMs in RC components generate a SUMO-SIM network that facilitates assembly of the RC. Our results highlight the importance of SUMO-SIM networks in regulating the assembly of dynamic protein complexes

Functional 3D architecture in an intrinsically disordered E3 ligase domain facilitates ubiquitin transfer

Funding: Wellcome Trust Investigator Awards (098391/Z/12/Z and 217196/Z/19/Z) and Cancer Research UK Programme grant (C434/A21747) to R.T.H., Wellcome Trust Studentship (109113/Z/15/Z) to P.M., Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award (215539) and multiuser equipment grant (104833) to S.J.M. Additionally J.C.P. thanks the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) and the University of St. Andrews for financial support.The human genome contains an estimated 600 ubiquitin E3 ligases, many of which are single-subunit E3s (ssE3s) that can bind to both substrate and ubiquitin-loaded E2 (E2~Ub). Within ssE3s structural disorder tends to be located in substrate binding and domain linking regions. RNF4 is a ssE3 ligase with a C-terminal RING domain and disordered N-terminal region containing SUMO Interactions Motifs (SIMs) required to bind SUMO modified substrates. Here we show that, although the N-terminal region of RNF4 bears no secondary structure, it maintains a compact global architecture primed for SUMO interaction. Segregated charged regions within the RNF4 N-terminus promote compaction, juxtaposing RING domain and SIMs to facilitate substrate ubiquitination. Mutations that induce a more extended shape reduce ubiquitination activity. Our result offer insight into a key step in substrate ubiquitination by a member of the largest ubiquitin ligase subtype and reveal how a defined architecture within a disordered region contributes to E3 ligase function.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Structural basis for the RING catalyzed synthesis of K63 linked ubiquitin chains

This work was supported by grants from Cancer Research UK (C434/A13067), the Wellcome Trust (098391/Z/12/Z) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J016004/1).The RING E3 ligase catalysed formation of lysine 63 linked ubiquitin chains by the Ube2V2–Ubc13 E2 complex is required for many important biological processes. Here we report the structure of the RING domain dimer of rat RNF4 in complex with a human Ubc13~Ub conjugate and Ube2V2. The structure has captured Ube2V2 bound to the acceptor (priming) ubiquitin with Lys63 in a position that could lead to attack on the linkage between the donor (second) ubiquitin and Ubc13 that is held in the active “folded back” conformation by the RING domain of RNF4. The interfaces identified in the structure were verified by in vitro ubiquitination assays of site directed mutants. This represents the first view of the synthesis of Lys63 linked ubiquitin chains in which both substrate ubiquitin and ubiquitin-loaded E2 are juxtaposed to allow E3 ligase mediated catalysis.PostprintPeer reviewe

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Characterization of SENP7, a SUMO-2/3-specific isopeptidase

International audienceModification of proteins by SUMO (Small Ubiqutin-like Modifer) plays important roles in regulating the activity, stability and cellular localization of target proteins. Like ubiquitination, SUMO modification is a dynamic process that can be reversed by SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs). So far, six SENPs have been discovered in humans although knowledge of their regulation, specificity and biological functions is limited. Here, we report that SENP7 has a restricted substrate specificity being unable to process SUMO precursors and displaying paralogue specific isopeptidase activity. The C-terminal catalytic domain of SENP7 efficiently depolymerised polySUMO-2 chains but had undetectable activity against polySUMO-1 chains. SENP7 also displayed isopeptidase activity against di-SUMO-2 and SUMO-2 modified RanGAP1, but had limited activity against SUMO-1 modified RanGAP1. In vivo, full-length SENP7 was localized to the nucleoplasm and preferentially reduced the accumulation of high molecular weight conjugates of SUMO-2 and SUMO-3 compared to SUMO-1. siRNA mediated ablation of SENP7 expression led to the accumulation of high molecular weight SUMO-2 species and to the accumulation of promyelocytic leukaemia protein in sub-nuclear bodies. These findings suggest that SENP7 acts as a SUMO-2/-3 specific protease that is likely to regulate the metabolism of polySUMO-2 /-3 rather than SUMO-1 conjugation in vivo

Structure of a RING E3 ligase and ubiquitin-loaded E2 primed for catalysis

Ubiquitin modification is mediated by a large family of specificity determining ubiquitin E3 ligases. To facilitate ubiquitin transfer, RING E3 ligases bind both substrate and a ubiquitin E2 conjugating enzyme linked to ubiquitin via a thioester bond, but the mechanism of transfer has remained elusive. Here we report the crystal structure of the dimeric RING domain of rat RNF4 in complex with E2 (UbcH5A) linked by an isopeptide bond to ubiquitin. While the E2 contacts a single protomer of the RING, ubiquitin is folded back onto the E2 by contacts from both RING protomers. The carboxy-terminal tail of ubiquitin is locked into an active site groove on the E2 by an intricate network of interactions, resulting in changes at the E2 active site. This arrangement is primed for catalysis as it can deprotonate the incoming substrate lysine residue and stabilize the consequent tetrahedral transition-state intermediate.</p