Genome-Wide and Functional Annotation of Human E3 Ubiquitin Ligases Identifies MULAN, a Mitochondrial E3 that Regulates the Organelle's Dynamics and Signaling

Specificity of protein ubiquitylation is conferred by E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligases. We have annotated ∼617 putative E3s and substrate-recognition subunits of E3 complexes encoded in the human genome. The limited knowledge of the function of members of the large E3 superfamily prompted us to generate genome-wide E3 cDNA and RNAi expression libraries designed for functional screening. An imaging-based screen using these libraries to identify E3s that regulate mitochondrial dynamics uncovered MULAN/FLJ12875, a RING finger protein whose ectopic expression and knockdown both interfered with mitochondrial trafficking and morphology. We found that MULAN is a mitochondrial protein – two transmembrane domains mediate its localization to the organelle's outer membrane. MULAN is oriented such that its E3-active, C-terminal RING finger is exposed to the cytosol, where it has access to other components of the Ub system. Both an intact RING finger and the correct subcellular localization were required for regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, suggesting that MULAN's downstream effectors are proteins that are either integral to, or associated with, mitochondria and that become modified with Ub. Interestingly, MULAN had previously been identified as an activator of NF-κB, thus providing a link between mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondria-to-nucleus signaling. These findings suggest the existence of a new, Ub-mediated mechanism responsible for integration of mitochondria into the cellular environment

Structure and function of the yeast listerin (ltn1) conserved N-terminal domain In binding to stalled 60s ribosomal subunits

The Ltn1 E3 ligase (listerin in mammals) has emerged as a paradigm for understanding ribosome-associated ubiquitylation. Ltn1 binds to 60S ribosomal subunits to ubiquitylate nascent polypeptides that become stalled during synthesis; among Ltn1's substrates are aberrant products of mRNA lacking stop codons [nonstop translation products (NSPs)]. Here, we report the reconstitution of NSP ubiquitylation in Neurospora crassa cell extracts. Upon translation in vitro, ribosome-stalled NSPs were ubiquitylated in an Ltn1-dependent manner, while still ribosome-associated. Furthermore, we provide biochemical evidence that the conserved N-terminal domain (NTD) plays a significant role in the binding of Ltn1 to 60S ribosomal subunits and that NTD mutations causing defective 60S binding also lead to defective NSP ubiquitylation, without affecting Ltn1's intrinsic E3 ligase activity. Finally, we report the crystal structure of the Ltn1 NTD at 2.4-angstrom resolution. The structure, combined with additional mutational studies, provides insight to NTD's role in binding stalled 60S subunits. Our findings show that Neurospora extracts can be used as a tool to dissect mechanisms underlying ribosome-associated protein quality control and are consistent with a model in which Ltn1 uses 60S subunits as adapters, at least in part via its NTD, to target stalled NSPs for ubiquitylation.The Ltn1 E3 ligase (listerin in mammals) has emerged as a paradigm for understanding ribosome-associated ubiquitylation. Ltn1 binds to 60S ribosomal subunits to ubiquitylate nascent polypeptides that become stalled during synthesisamong Ltn1's substra11329E4151E4160sem informaçãosem informaçãoWe thank G. Dieci and J. Warner for reagents and the Fungal Genetics Stock Center for providing Neurospora strains. Work in the C.A.P.J. laboratory is supported by R01 Grant NS075719 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIND

RING domain E3 ubiquitin ligases

E3 ligases confer specificity to ubiquitination by recognizing target substrates and mediating transfer of ubiquitin from an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme to substrate. The activity of most E3s is specified by a RING domain, which binds to an E2~ubiquitin thioester and activates discharge of its ubiquitin cargo. E2-E3 complexes can either monoubiquitinate a substrate lysine or synthesize polyubiquitin chains assembled via different lysine residues of ubiquitin. These modifications can have diverse effects on the substrate, ranging from proteasome-dependent proteolysis to modulation of protein function, structure, assembly, and/or localization. Not surprisingly, RING E3-mediated ubiquitination can be regulated in a number of ways. RING-based E3s are specified by over 600 human genes, surpassing the 518 protein kinase genes. Accordingly, RING E3s have been linked to the control of many cellular processes and to multiple human diseases. Despite their critical importance, our knowledge of the physiological partners, biological functions, substrates, and mechanism of action for most RING E3s remains at a rudimentary stage

The APC tumor suppressor counteracts β-catenin activation and H3K4 methylation at Wnt target genes

The APC tumor suppressor controls the stability and nuclear export of β-catenin (β-cat), a transcriptional coactivator of LEF-1/TCF HMG proteins in the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway. We show here that β-cat and APC have opposing actions at Wnt target genes in vivo. The β-cat C-terminal activation domain associates with TRRAP/TIP60 and mixed-lineage-leukemia (MLL1/MLL2) SET1-type chromatin-modifying complexes in vitro, and we show that β-cat promotes H3K4 trimethylation at the c-Myc gene in vivo. H3K4 trimethylation in vivo requires prior ubiquitination of H2B, and we find that ubiquitin is necessary for transcription initiation on chromatin but not nonchromatin templates in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that β-cat recruits Pygopus, Bcl-9/Legless, and MLL/SET1-type complexes to the c-Myc enhancer together with the negative Wnt regulators, APC, and βTrCP. Interestingly, APC-mediated repression of c-Myc transcription in HT29-APC colorectal cancer cells is initiated by the transient binding of APC, βTrCP, and the CtBP corepressor to the c-Myc enhancer, followed by stable binding of the TLE-1 and HDAC1 corepressors. Moreover, nuclear CtBP physically associates with full-length APC, but not with mutant SW480 or HT29 APC proteins. We conclude that, in addition to regulating the stability of β-cat, APC facilitates CtBP-mediated repression of Wnt target genes in normal, but not in colorectal cancer cells

Ubiquitylation by the Ltn1 E3 ligase protects 60S ribosomes from starvation-induced selective autophagy.

Association for Research against Cancer, Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (grant R01 NS075719), Research Scholar Grant (RSG-08-298-01-TBE) from the American Cancer SocietyInternational audienceAutophagy, the process by which proteins or organelles are engulfed by autophagosomes and delivered for vacuolar/lysosomal degradation, is induced to ensure survival under starvation and other stresses. A selective autophagic pathway for 60S ribosomal subunits elicited by nitrogen starvation in yeast-ribophagy-was recently described and requires the Ubp3-Bre5 deubiquitylating enzyme. This discovery implied that an E3 ligases act upstream, whether inhibiting the process or providing an initial required signal. In this paper, we show that Ltn1/Rkr1, a 60S ribosome-associated E3 implicated in translational surveillance, acts as an inhibitor of 60S ribosomal subunit ribophagy and is antagonized by Ubp3. The ribosomal protein Rpl25 is a relevant target. Its ubiquitylation is Ltn1 dependent and Ubp3 reversed, and mutation of its ubiquitylation site rendered ribophagy less dependent on Ubp3. Consistently, the expression of Ltn1-but not Ubp3-rapidly decreased after starvation, presumably to allow ribophagy to proceed. Thus, Ltn1 and Ubp3-Bre5 likely contribute to adapt ribophagy activity to both nutrient supply and protein translation

Mechanism and evolutionary origins of alanine-tail C-degron recognition by E3 ligases Pirh2 and CRL2-KLHDC10

Summary: In ribosome-associated quality control (RQC), nascent polypeptides produced by interrupted translation are modified with C-terminal polyalanine tails (“Ala-tails”) that function outside ribosomes to induce ubiquitylation by E3 ligases Pirh2 (p53-induced RING-H2 domain-containing) or CRL2 (Cullin-2 RING ligase2)-KLHDC10. Here, we investigate the molecular basis of Ala-tail function using biochemical and in silico approaches. We show that Pirh2 and KLHDC10 directly bind to Ala-tails and that structural predictions identify candidate Ala-tail-binding sites, which we experimentally validate. The degron-binding pockets and specific pocket residues implicated in Ala-tail recognition are conserved among Pirh2 and KLHDC10 homologs, suggesting that an important function of these ligases across eukaryotes is in targeting Ala-tailed substrates. Moreover, we establish that the two Ala-tail-binding pockets have convergently evolved, either from an ancient module of bacterial provenance (Pirh2) or via tinkering of a widespread C-degron-recognition element (KLHDC10). These results shed light on the recognition of a simple degron sequence and the evolution of Ala-tail proteolytic signaling

Convergence of mammalian RQC and C-end rule proteolytic pathways via alanine tailing.

Incompletely synthesized nascent chains obstructing large ribosomal subunits are targeted for degradation by ribosome-associated quality control (RQC). In bacterial RQC, RqcH marks the nascent chains with C-terminal alanine (Ala) tails that are directly recognized by proteasome-like proteases, whereas in eukaryotes, RqcH orthologs (Rqc2/NEMF [nuclear export mediator factor]) assist the Ltn1/Listerin E3 ligase in nascent chain ubiquitylation. Here, we study RQC-mediated proteolytic targeting of ribosome stalling products in mammalian cells. We show that mammalian NEMF has an additional, Listerin-independent proteolytic role, which, as in bacteria, is mediated by tRNA-Ala binding and Ala tailing. However, in mammalian cells Ala tails signal proteolysis indirectly, through a pathway that recognizes C-terminal degrons; we identify the CRL