The Bcl-2 Protein Family Member Bok Binds to the Coupling Domain of Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors and Protects Them from Proteolytic Cleavage

Bok is a member of the Bcl-2 protein family that controls intrinsic apoptosis. Bok is most closely related to the pro-apoptotic proteins Bak and Bax, but in contrast to Bak and Bax, very little is known about its cellular role. Here we report that Bok binds strongly and constitutively to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), proteins that form tetrameric calcium channels in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and govern the release of ER calcium stores. Bok binds most strongly to IP3R1 and IP3R2, and barely to IP3R3, and essentially all cellular Bok is IP3R bound in cells that express substantial amounts of IP3Rs. Binding to IP3Rs appears to be mediated by the putative BH4 domain of Bok and the docking site localizes to a small region within the coupling domain of IP3Rs (amino acids 1895–1903 of IP3R1) that is adjacent to numerous regulatory sites, including sites for proteolysis. With regard to the possible role of Bok-IP3R binding, the following was observed: (i) Bok does not appear to control the ability of IP3Rs to release ER calcium stores, (ii) Bok regulates IP3R expression, (iii) persistent activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent cell signaling causes Bok degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, in a manner that parallels IP3R degradation, and (iv) Bok protects IP3Rs from proteolysis, either by chymotrypsin in vitro or by caspase-3 in vivo during apoptosis. Overall, these data show that Bok binds strongly and constitutively to IP3Rs and that the most significant consequence of this binding appears to be protection of IP3Rs from proteolysis. Thus, Bok may govern IP3R cleavage and activity during apoptosis

RNF170 Protein, an Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Ubiquitin Ligase, Mediates Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Ubiquitination and Degradation*

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors are endoplasmic reticulum membrane calcium channels that, upon activation, are degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. While searching for novel mediators of IP3 receptor processing, we discovered that RNF170, an uncharacterized RING domain-containing protein, associates rapidly with activated IP3 receptors. RNF170 is predicted to have three membrane-spanning helices, is localized to the ER membrane, and possesses ubiquitin ligase activity. Depletion of endogenous RNF170 by RNA interference inhibited stimulus-induced IP3 receptor ubiquitination, and degradation and overexpression of a catalytically inactive RNF170 mutant suppressed stimulus-induced IP3 receptor processing. A substantial proportion of RNF170 is constitutively associated with the erlin1/2 (SPFH1/2) complex, which has been shown previously to bind to IP3 receptors immediately after their activation. Depletion of RNF170 did not affect the binding of the erlin1/2 complex to stimulated IP3 receptors, whereas erlin1/2 complex depletion inhibited RNF170 binding. These results suggest a model in which the erlin1/2 complex recruits RNF170 to activated IP3 receptors where it mediates IP3 receptor ubiquitination. Thus, RNF170 plays an essential role in IP3 receptor processing via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway