OTU deubiquitinases reveal mechanisms of linkage specificity and enable ubiquitin chain restriction analysis

Sixteen ovarian tumor (OTU) family deubiquitinases (DUBs) exist in humans, and most members regulate cell-signaling cascades. Several OTU DUBs were reported to be ubiquitin (Ub) chain linkage specific, but comprehensive analyses are missing, and the underlying mechanisms of linkage specificity are unclear. Using Ub chains of all eight linkage types, we reveal that most human OTU enzymes are linkage specific, preferring one, two, or a defined subset of linkage types, including unstudied atypical Ub chains. Biochemical analysis and five crystal structures of OTU DUBs with or without Ub substrates reveal four mechanisms of linkage specificity. Additional Ub-binding domains, the ubiquitinated sequence in the substrate, and defined S1’ and S2 Ub-binding sites on the OTU domain enable OTU DUBs to distinguish linkage types. We introduce Ub chain restriction analysis, in which OTU DUBs are used as restriction enzymes to reveal linkage type and the relative abundance of Ub chains on substrates

Automated DNA Sequencing System

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing a core DNA sequencing facility to support biological research endeavors at ORNL and to conduct basic sequencing automation research. This facility is novel because its development is based on existing standard biology laboratory equipment; thus, the development process is of interest to the many small laboratories trying to use automation to control costs and increase throughput. Before automation, biology Laboratory personnel purified DNA, completed cycle sequencing, and prepared 96-well sample plates with commercially available hardware designed specifically for each step in the process. Following purification and thermal cycling, an automated sequencing machine was used for the sequencing. A technician handled all movement of the 96-well sample plates between machines. To automate the process, ORNL is adding a CRS Robotics A- 465 arm, ABI 377 sequencing machine, automated centrifuge, automated refrigerator, and possibly an automated SpeedVac. The entire system will be integrated with one central controller that will direct each machine and the robot. The goal of this system is to completely automate the sequencing procedure from bacterial cell samples through ready-to-be-sequenced DNA and ultimately to completed sequence. The system will be flexible and will accommodate different chemistries than existing automated sequencing lines. The system will be expanded in the future to include colony picking and/or actual sequencing. This discrete event, DNA sequencing system will demonstrate that smaller sequencing labs can achieve cost-effective the laboratory grow

Screening of DUB activity and specificity by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Deubiquitylases (DUBs) are key regulators of the ubiquitin system which cleave ubiquitin moieties from proteins and polyubiquitin chains. Several DUBs have been implicated in various diseases and are attractive drug targets. We have developed a sensitive and fast assay to quantify in vitro DUB enzyme activity using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Unlike other current assays, this method uses unmodified substrates, such as diubiquitin topoisomers. By analyzing 42 human DUBs against all diubiquitin topoisomers we provide an extensive characterization of DUB activity and specificity. Our results confirm the high specificity of many members of the OTU and JAMM DUB families and highlight that all USPs tested display low linkage selectivity. We also demonstrate that this assay can be deployed to assess the potency and specificity of DUB inhibitors by profiling 11 compounds against a panel of 32 DUBs

Molecular basis of Lys11-polyubiquitin specificity in the deubiquitinase Cezanne

The post-translational modification of proteins with polyubiquitin regulates virtually all aspects of cell biology. Eight distinct chain linkage types in polyubiquitin co-exist and are independently regulated in cells. This ‘ubiquitin code’ determines the fate of the modified protein1. Deubiquitinating enzymes of the Ovarian Tumour (OTU) family regulate cellular signalling by targeting distinct linkage types within polyubiquitin2, and understanding their mechanisms of linkage specificity gives fundamental insights into the ubiquitin system. We here reveal how the deubiquitinase Cezanne/OTUD7B specifically targets Lys11-linked polyubiquitin. Crystal structures of Cezanne alone and in complex with mono- and Lys11-linked diubiquitin, in combination with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, enable reconstruction of the enzymatic cycle in exquisite detail. An intricate mechanism of ubiquitin-assisted conformational changes activate the enzyme, and while all chain types interact with the enzymatic S1 site, only Lys11-linked chains can bind productively across the active site and stimulate catalytic turnover. Our work highlights the fascinating plasticity of deubiquitinases, and indicates that new conformational states can occur when a true substrate, such as diubiquitin, is bound at the active site

Reduced neural integration of letters and speech sounds links phonological and reading deficits in adult dyslexia

SummaryDevelopmental dyslexia is a specific reading and spelling deficit [1] affecting 4% to 10% of the population [2, 3]. Advances in understanding its origin support a core deficit in phonological processing [4–6] characterized by difficulties in segmenting spoken words into their minimally discernable speech segments (speech sounds, or phonemes) [7, 8] and underactivation of left superior temporal cortex [9, 10]. A suggested but unproven hypothesis is that this phonological deficit impairs the ability to map speech sounds onto their homologous visual letters, which in turn prevents the attainment of fluent reading levels [7, 11]. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated the neural processing of letters and speech sounds in unisensory (visual, auditory) and multisensory (audiovisual congruent, audiovisual incongruent) conditions as a function of reading ability. Our data reveal that adult dyslexic readers underactivate superior temporal cortex for the integration of letters and speech sounds. This reduced audiovisual integration is directly associated with a more fundamental deficit in auditory processing of speech sounds, which in turn predicts performance on phonological tasks. The data provide a neurofunctional account of developmental dyslexia, in which phonological processing deficits are linked to reading failure through a deficit in neural integration of letters and speech sounds

Dot1 promotes H2B ubiquitination by a methyltransferase-independent mechanism

Chemical Immunolog

OTU deubiquitinases reveal mechanisms of linkage specificity and enable ubiquitin chain restriction analysis

SummarySixteen ovarian tumor (OTU) family deubiquitinases (DUBs) exist in humans, and most members regulate cell-signaling cascades. Several OTU DUBs were reported to be ubiquitin (Ub) chain linkage specific, but comprehensive analyses are missing, and the underlying mechanisms of linkage specificity are unclear. Using Ub chains of all eight linkage types, we reveal that most human OTU enzymes are linkage specific, preferring one, two, or a defined subset of linkage types, including unstudied atypical Ub chains. Biochemical analysis and five crystal structures of OTU DUBs with or without Ub substrates reveal four mechanisms of linkage specificity. Additional Ub-binding domains, the ubiquitinated sequence in the substrate, and defined S1’ and S2 Ub-binding sites on the OTU domain enable OTU DUBs to distinguish linkage types. We introduce Ub chain restriction analysis, in which OTU DUBs are used as restriction enzymes to reveal linkage type and the relative abundance of Ub chains on substrates

On Terminal Alkynes That Can React with Active-Site Cysteine Nucleophiles in Proteases

Active-site directed probes are powerful in studies of enzymatic function. We report an active-site directed probe based on a warhead so far considered unreactive. By replacing the C-terminal carboxylate of ubiquitin (Ub) with an alkyne functionality, a selective reaction with the active-site cysteine residue of de-ubiquitinating enzymes was observed. The resulting product was shown to be a quaternary vinyl thio­ether, as determined by X-ray crystallography. Proteomic analysis of proteins bound to an immobilized Ub alkyne probe confirmed the selectivity toward de-ubiquitinating enzymes. The observed reactivity is not just restricted to propargyl­ated Ub, as highlighted by the selective reaction between caspase-1 (interleukin converting enzyme) and a propargyl­ated peptide derived from IL-1β, a caspase-1 substrate

A cascading activity-based probe sequentially targets E1–E2–E3 ubiquitin enzymes

Post-translational modifications of proteins with ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) modifiers, orchestrated by a cascade of specialized E1, E2 and E3 enzymes, control a staggering breadth of cellular processes. To monitor catalysis along these complex reaction pathways, we developed a cascading activity-based probe, UbDha. Akin to the native Ub, upon ATP-dependent activation by the E1, UbDha can travel downstream to the E2 (and subsequently E3) enzymes through sequential trans-thioesterifications. Unlike the native Ub, at each step along the cascade UbDha has the option to react irreversibly with active site cysteine residues of target enzymes, thus enabling their detection. We show that our cascading probe ‘hops’ and ‘traps’ catalytically active ubiquitin-modifying enzymes (but not their substrates) by a mechanism diversifiable to Ubls. Our founder methodology, amenable to structural studies, proteome-wide profiling and monitoring of enzymatic activities in living cells, presents novel and versatile tools to interrogate the Ub/Ubl cascades