Phosphorylation of 20S proteasome alpha subunit C8 (alpha7) stabilizes the 26S proteasome and plays a role in the regulation of proteasome complexes by gamma-interferon

Key features of the innate immune response is mediated by the immunoproteasome in microglia

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). We and others have shown that the inflammatory response of microglia is partially regulated by the immunoproteasome, an inducible form of the proteasome responsible for the generation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I epitopes. While the role of the proteasome in the adaptive immune system is well established, emerging evidence suggests the immunoproteasome may have discrete functions in the innate immune response. Here, we show that inhibiting the immunoproteasome reduces the IFNγ-dependent induction of complement activator C1q, suppresses phagocytosis, and alters the cytokine expression profile in a microglial cell line and microglia derived from human inducible pluripotent stem cells. Moreover, we show that the immunoproteasome regulates the degradation of IκBα, a modulator of NF-κB signaling. Finally, we demonstrate that NADH prevents induction of the immunoproteasome, representing a potential pathway to suppress immunoproteasome-dependent immune responses.

Multiomics Reveals Induction of Neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)C Cell Death by Mitochondrial Division Inhibitor 1 through Multiple Effects

Mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) is a well-known synthetic compound aimed at inhibiting dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) to suppress mitochondrial fission, making it a valuable tool for studying mitochondrial dynamics. However, its specific effects beyond Drp1 inhibition remain to be confirmed. In this study, we employed integrative proteomics and phosphoproteomics to delve into the molecular responses induced by Mdivi-1 in SK-N-BE(2)C cells. A total of 3070 proteins and 1945 phosphorylation sites were identified, with 880 of them represented as phosphoproteins. Among these, 266 proteins and 97 phosphorylation sites were found to be sensitive to the Mdivi-1 treatment. Functional enrichment analysis unveiled their involvement in serine biosynthesis and extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. Through targeted metabolomics, we observed that Mdivi-1 enhanced intracellular serine biosynthesis while reducing the production of C24:1-ceramide. Within these regulated phosphoproteins, dynamic dephosphorylation of proteasome subunit alpha type 3 serine 250 (PSMA3-S250) occurred after Mdivi-1 treatment. Further site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that the dephosphorylation-deficient mutant PSMA3-S250A exhibited a decreased cell survival. This research confirms that Mdivi-1's inhibition of mitochondrial division leads to various side effects, ultimately influencing cell survival, rather than solely targeting Drp1 inhibition.

Method of Monitoring 26S Proteasome in Cells Revealed the Crucial Role of PSMA3 C-Terminus in 26S Integrity

Proteasomes critically regulate proteostasis via protein degradation. Proteasomes are multi-subunit complexes composed of the 20S proteolytic core particle (20S CP) that, in association with one or two 19S regulatory particles (19S RPs), generates the 26S proteasome, which is the major proteasomal complex in cells. Native gel protocols are used to investigate the 26S/20S ratio. However, a simple method for detecting these proteasome complexes in cells is missing. To this end, using CRISPR technology, we YFP-tagged the endogenous PSMB6 (β1) gene, a 20S CP subunit, and co-tagged endogenous PSMD6 (Rpn7), a 19S RP subunit, with the mScarlet fluorescent protein. We observed the colocalization of the YFP and mScarlet fluorescent proteins in the cells, with higher nuclear accumulation. Nuclear proteasomal granules are formed under osmotic stress, and all were positive for YFP and mScarlet. Previously, we have reported that PSMD1 knockdown, one of the 19 RP subunits, gives rise to a high level of "free" 20S CPs. Intriguingly, under this condition, the 20S-YFP remained nuclear, whereas the PSMD6-mScarlet was mostly in cytoplasm, demonstrating the distinct subcellular distribution of uncapped 20S CPs. Lately, we have shown that the PSMA3 (α7) C-terminus, a 20S CP subunit, binds multiple intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Remarkably, the truncation of the PSMA3 C-terminus is phenotypically reminiscent of PSMD1 knockdown. These data suggest that the PSMA3 C-terminal region is critical for 26S proteasome integrity.

Establishing 20S Proteasome Genetic, Translational and Post-Translational Status from Precious Biological and Patient Samples with Top-Down MS

The mammalian 20S catalytic core of the proteasome is made of 14 different subunits (α1-7 and β1-7) but exists as different subtypes depending on the cell type. In immune cells, for instance, constitutive catalytic proteasome subunits can be replaced by the so-called immuno-catalytic subunits, giving rise to the immunoproteasome. Proteasome activity is also altered by post-translational modifications (PTMs) and by genetic variants. Immunochemical methods are commonly used to investigate these PTMs whereby protein-tagging is necessary to monitor their effect on 20S assembly. Here, we present a new miniaturized workflow combining top-down and bottom-up mass spectrometry of immunopurified 20S proteasomes that analyze the proteasome assembly status as well as the full proteoform footprint, revealing PTMs, mutations, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and induction of immune-subunits in different biological samples, including organoids, biopsies and B-lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from patients with proteasome-associated autoinflammatory syndromes (PRAAS). We emphasize the benefits of using top-down mass spectrometry in preserving the endogenous conformation of protein modifications, while enabling a rapid turnaround (1 h run) and ensuring high sensitivity (1–2 pmol) and demonstrate its capacity to semi-quantify constitutive and immune proteasome subunits.

Reduction in PA28αβ activation in HD mouse brain correlates to increased mHTT aggregation in cell models

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant heritable disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat at the N-terminus of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Lowering the levels of soluble mutant HTT protein prior to aggregation through increased degradation by the proteasome would be a therapeutic strategy to prevent or delay the onset of disease. Native PAGE experiments in HdhQ150 mice and R6/2 mice showed that PA28αβ disassembles from the 20S proteasome during disease progression in the affected cortex, striatum and hippocampus but not in cerebellum and brainstem. Modulating PA28αβ activated proteasomes in various in vitro models showed that PA28αβ improved polyQ degradation, but decreased the turnover of mutant HTT. Silencing of PA28αβ in cells lead to an increase in mutant HTT aggregates, suggesting that PA28αβ is critical for overall proteostasis, but only indirectly affects mutant HTT aggregation.

Comprehensive Analysis of Proteasomal Complexes in Mouse Brain Regions Detects ENO2 as a Potential Partner of the Proteasome in the Striatum

Defects in the activity of the proteasome or its regulators are linked to several pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases. We hypothesize that proteasome heterogeneity and its selective partners vary across brain regions and have a significant impact on proteasomal catalytic activities. Using neuronal cell cultures and brain tissues obtained from mice, we compared proteasomal activities from two distinct brain regions affected in neurodegenerative diseases, the striatum and the hippocampus. The results indicated that proteasome activities and their responses to proteasome inhibitors are determined by their subcellular localizations and their brain regions. Using an iodixanol gradient fractionation method, proteasome complexes were isolated, followed by proteomic analysis for proteasomal interaction partners. Proteomic results revealed brain region-specific non-proteasomal partners, including gamma-enolase (ENO2). ENO2 showed more association to proteasome complexes purified from the striatum than to those from the hippocampus. These results highlight a potential key role for non-proteasomal partners of proteasomes regarding the diverse activities of the proteasome complex recorded in several brain regions.

Oxidative and salt stresses alter the 26S proteasome holoenzyme and associated protein profiles in Arabidopsis thaliana

BACKGROUND

The 26S proteasome, canonically composed of multi-subunit 19S regulatory (RP) and 20S core (CP) particles, is crucial for cellular proteostasis. Proteasomes are re-modeled, activated, or re-localized and this regulation is critical for plants in response to environmental stresses. The proteasome holoenzyme assembly and dissociation are therefore highly dynamic in vivo. However, the stoichiometric changes of the plant proteasomes and how proteasome associated chaperones vary under common abiotic stresses have not been systematically studied.

RESULTS

Here, we studied the impact of abiotic stresses on proteasome structure, activity, and interacting partners in Arabidopsis thaliana. We analyzed available RNA expression data and observed that expressions of proteasome coding genes varied substantially under stresses; however, the protein levels of a few key subunits did not change significantly within 24 h. Instead, a switch in the predominant proteasome complex, from 26S to 20S, occurs under oxidative or salt stress. Oxidative stress also reduced the cellular ATP content and the association of HSP70-family proteins to the 20S proteasome, but enhanced the activity of cellular free form CP. Salt stress, on the other hand, did not affect cellular ATP level, but caused subtle changes in proteasome subunit composition and impacted bindings of assembly chaperones. Analyses of an array of T-DNA insertional mutant lines highlighted important roles for several putative assembly chaperones in seedling establishment and stress sensitivity. We also observed that knockout of PBAC1, one of the α-ring assembly chaperones, resulted in reduced germination and tearing of the seed coat following sterilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of proteasome regulation during oxidative stress, involving dynamic regulation of the holoenzyme formation and associated regulatory proteins, and we also identified a novel role of the PBAC1 proteasome assembly chaperone in seed coat development.

Mechanisms That Activate 26S Proteasomes and Enhance Protein Degradation

Although ubiquitination is widely assumed to be the only regulated step in the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, recent studies have demonstrated several important mechanisms that regulate the activities of the 26S proteasome. Most proteasomes in cells are inactive but, upon binding a ubiquitinated substrate, become activated by a two-step mechanism requiring an association of the ubiquitin chain with Usp14 and then a loosely folded protein domain with the ATPases. The initial activation step is signaled by Usp14’s UBL domain, and many UBL-domain-containing proteins (e.g., Rad23, Parkin) also activate the proteasome. ZFAND5 is a distinct type of activator that binds ubiquitin conjugates and the proteasome and stimulates proteolysis during muscle atrophy. The proteasome’s activities are also regulated through subunit phosphorylation. Agents that raise cAMP and activate PKA stimulate within minutes Rpn6 phosphorylation and enhance the selective degradation of short-lived proteins. Likewise, hormones, fasting, and exercise, which raise cAMP, activate proteasomes and proteolysis in target tissues. Agents that raise cGMP and activate PKG also stimulate 26S activities but modify different subunit(s) and stimulate also the degradation of long-lived cell proteins. Both kinases enhance the selective degradation of aggregation-prone proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases. These new mechanisms regulating proteolysis thus have clear physiological importance and therapeutic potential.

Expanding the role of proteasome homeostasis in Parkinson's disease: beyond protein breakdown

Proteasome is the principal hydrolytic machinery responsible for the great majority of protein degradation. The past three decades have testified prominent advances about proteasome involved in almost every aspect of biological processes. Nonetheless, inappropriate increase or decrease in proteasome function is regarded as a causative factor in several diseases. Proteasome abundance and proper assembly need to be precisely controlled. Indeed, various neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) share a common pathological feature, intracellular protein accumulation such as α-synuclein. Proteasome activation may effectively remove aggregates and prevent the neurodegeneration in PD, which provides a potential application for disease-modifying treatment. In this review, we build on the valuable discoveries related to different types of proteolysis by distinct forms of proteasome, and how its regulatory and catalytic particles promote protein elimination. Additionally, we summarize the emerging ideas on the proteasome homeostasis regulation by targeting transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. Given the imbalanced proteostasis in PD, the strategies for intensifying proteasomal degradation are advocated as a promising approach for PD clinical intervention.

Proteasome Biology: Chemistry and Bioengineering Insights

Proteasomal degradation provides the crucial machinery for maintaining cellular proteostasis. The biological origins of modulation or impairment of the function of proteasomal complexes may include changes in gene expression of their subunits, ubiquitin mutation, or indirect mechanisms arising from the overall impairment of proteostasis. However, changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of the cellular environment might also meaningfully contribute to altered performance. This review summarizes the effects of physicochemical factors in the cell, such as pH, temperature fluctuations, and reactions with the products of oxidative metabolism, on the function of the proteasome. Furthermore, evidence of the direct interaction of proteasomal complexes with protein aggregates is compared against the knowledge obtained from immobilization biotechnologies. In this regard, factors such as the structures of the natural polymeric scaffolds in the cells, their content of reactive groups or the sequestration of metal ions, and processes at the interface, are discussed here with regard to their influences on proteasomal function.

Phosphorylation Modifications Regulating Cardiac Protein Quality Control Mechanisms

Many forms of cardiac disease, including heart failure, present with inadequate protein quality control (PQC). Pathological conditions often involve impaired removal of terminally misfolded proteins. This results in the formation of large protein aggregates, which further reduce cellular viability and cardiac function. Cardiomyocytes have an intricately collaborative PQC system to minimize cellular proteotoxicity. Increased expression of chaperones or enhanced clearance of misfolded proteins either by the proteasome or lysosome has been demonstrated to attenuate disease pathogenesis, whereas reduced PQC exacerbates pathogenesis. Recent studies have revealed that phosphorylation of key proteins has a potent regulatory role, both promoting and hindering the PQC machinery. This review highlights the recent advances in phosphorylations regulating PQC, the impact in cardiac pathology, and the therapeutic opportunities presented by harnessing these modifications.

Post-Translational Modifications of Extracellular Proteasome

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is one of the major protein degradation pathways in eukaryotic cells. Abnormal functioning of this system has been observed in cancer and neurological diseases. The 20S proteasomes, essential components of the UPS, are present not only within the cells but also in the extracellular space, and their concentration in blood plasma has been found to be elevated and dependent upon the disease state, being of prognostic significance in patients suffering from cancer, liver diseases, and autoimmune diseases. However, functions of extracellular proteasomes and mechanisms of their release by cells remain largely unknown. The main mechanism of proteasome activity regulation is provided by modulation of their composition and post-translational modifications (PTMs). Moreover, diverse PTMs of proteins are known to participate in the loading of specific elements into extracellular vesicles. Since previous studies have revealed that the transport of extracellular proteasomes may occur via extracellular vesicles, we have set out to explore the PTMs of extracellular proteasomes in comparison to cellular counterparts. In this work, cellular and extracellular proteasomes were affinity purified and separated by SDS-PAGE for subsequent trypsinization and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. In total, we could identify 64 and 55 PTM sites in extracellular and cellular proteasomes, respectively, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, and succinylation. We observed novel sites of acetylation at K238 and K192 of the proteasome subunits β2 and β3, respectively, that are specific for extracellular proteasomes. Moreover, cellular proteasomes show specific acetylation at K227 of α2 and ubiquitination at K201 of β3. Interestingly, succinylation of β6 at the residue K228 seems not to be present exclusively in extracellular proteasomes, whereas both extracellular and cellular proteasomes may also be acetylated at this site. The same situation takes place at K201 of the β3 subunit where ubiquitination is seemingly specific for cellular proteasomes. Moreover, crosstalk between acetylation, ubiquitination, and succinylation has been observed in the subunit α3 of both proteasome populations. These data will serve as a basis for further studies, aimed at dissection of the roles of extracellular proteasome-specific PTMs in terms of the function of these proteasomes and mechanism of their transport into extracellular space.

Comparative Structural Analysis of 20S Proteasome Ortholog Protein Complexes by Native Mass Spectrometry

Ortholog protein complexes are responsible for equivalent functions in different organisms. However, during evolution, each organism adapts to meet its physiological needs and the environmental challenges imposed by its niche. This selection pressure leads to structural diversity in protein complexes, which are often difficult to specify, especially in the absence of high-resolution structures. Here, we describe a multilevel experimental approach based on native mass spectrometry (MS) tools for elucidating the structural preservation and variations among highly related protein complexes. The 20S proteasome, an essential protein degradation machinery, served as our model system, wherein we examined five complexes isolated from different organisms. We show that throughout evolution, from the Thermoplasma acidophilum archaeal prokaryotic complex to the eukaryotic 20S proteasomes in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammals (rat - Rattus norvegicus, rabbit - Oryctolagus cuniculus and human - HEK293 cells), the proteasome increased both in size and stability. Native MS structural signatures of the rat and rabbit 20S proteasomes, which heretofore lacked high-resolution, three-dimensional structures, highly resembled that of the human complex. Using cryoelectron microscopy single-particle analysis, we were able to obtain a high-resolution structure of the rat 20S proteasome, allowing us to validate the MS-based results. Our study also revealed that the yeast complex, and not those in mammals, was the largest in size and displayed the greatest degree of kinetic stability. Moreover, we also identified a new proteoform of the PSMA7 subunit that resides within the rat and rabbit complexes, which to our knowledge have not been previously described. Altogether, our strategy enables elucidation of the unique structural properties of protein complexes that are highly similar to one another, a framework that is valid not only to ortholog protein complexes, but also for other highly related protein assemblies.

Network Reconstruction and Significant Pathway Extraction Using Phosphoproteomic Data from Cancer Cells

Protein phosphorylation acts as an efficient switch controlling deregulated key signaling pathway in cancer. Computational biology aims to address the complexity of reconstructed networks but overrepresents well-known proteins and lacks information on less-studied proteins. A bioinformatic tool to reconstruct and select relatively small networks that connect signaling proteins to their targets in specific contexts is developed. It enables to propose and validate new signaling axes of the Syk kinase. To validate the potency of the tool, it is applied to two phosphoproteomic studies on oncogenic mutants of the well-known phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PIK3CA) and the unfamiliar Src-related tyrosine kinase lacking C-terminal regulatory tyrosine and N-terminal myristoylation sites (SRMS) kinase. By combining network reconstruction and signal propagation, comprehensive signaling networks from large-scale experimental data are built and multiple molecular paths from these kinases to their targets are extracted. Specific paths from two distinct PIK3CA mutants are retrieved, and their differential impact on the HER3 receptor kinase is explained. In addition, to address the missing connectivities of the SRMS kinase to its targets in interaction pathway databases, phospho-tyrosine and phospho-serine/threonine proteomic data are integrated. The resulting SRMS-signaling network comprises casein kinase 2, thereby validating its currently suggested role downstream of SRMS. The computational pipeline is publicly available, and contains a user-friendly graphical interface (http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3333687).

Visualizing Proteasome Activity and Intracellular Localization Using Fluorescent Proteins and Activity-Based Probes

The proteasome is a multi-catalytic molecular machine that plays a key role in the degradation of many cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. The proteasome is essential and proteasome malfunction is associated with various disease pathologies. Proteasome activity depends on its catalytic subunits which are interchangeable and also on the interaction with the associated regulatory cap complexes. Here, we describe and compare various methods that allow the study of proteasome function in living cells. Methods include the use of fluorescently tagged proteasome subunits and the use of activity-based proteasome probes. These probes can be used in both biochemical assays and in microscopy-based experiments. Together with tagged proteasomes, they can be used to study proteasome localization, dynamics, and activity.

Regulation of Proteasome Activity by (Post-)transcriptional Mechanisms

Intracellular protein synthesis, folding, and degradation are tightly controlled processes to ensure proper protein homeostasis. The proteasome is responsible for the degradation of the majority of intracellular proteins, which are often targeted for degradation via polyubiquitination. However, the degradation rate of proteins is also affected by the capacity of proteasomes to recognize and degrade these substrate proteins. This capacity is regulated by a variety of proteasome modulations including (1) changes in complex composition, (2) post-translational modifications, and (3) altered transcription of proteasomal subunits and activators. Various diseases are linked to proteasome modulation and altered proteasome function. A better understanding of these modulations may offer new perspectives for therapeutic intervention. Here we present an overview of these three proteasome modulating mechanisms to give better insight into the diversity of proteasomes.

Proteasome: a Nanomachinery of Creative Destruction

In the middle of the 20th century, it was postulated that degradation of intracellular proteins is a stochastic process. More than fifty years of intense studies have finally proven that protein degradation is a very complex and tightly regulated in time and space process that plays an incredibly important role in the vast majority of metabolic pathways. Degradation of more than a half of intracellular proteins is controlled by a hierarchically aligned and evolutionarily perfect system consisting of many components, the main ones being ubiquitin ligases and proteasomes, together referred to as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). The UPS includes more than 1000 individual components, and most of them are critical for the cell functioning and survival. In addition to the well-known signaling functions of ubiquitination, such as modification of substrates for proteasomal degradation and DNA repair, polyubiquitin (polyUb) chains are involved in other important cellular processes, e.g., cell cycle regulation, immunity, protein degradation in mitochondria, and even mRNA stability. This incredible variety of ubiquitination functions is related to the ubiquitin ability to form branching chains through the ε-amino group of any of seven lysine residues in its sequence. Deubiquitination is accomplished by proteins of the deubiquitinating enzyme family. The second main component of the UPS is proteasome, a multisubunit proteinase complex that, in addition to the degradation of functionally exhausted and damaged proteins, regulates many important cellular processes through controlled degradation of substrates, for example, transcription factors and cyclins. In addition to the ubiquitin-dependent-mediated degradation, there is also ubiquitin-independent degradation, when the proteolytic signal is either an intrinsic protein sequence or shuttle molecule. Protein hydrolysis is a critically important cellular function; therefore, any abnormalities in this process lead to systemic impairments further transforming into serious diseases, such as diabetes, malignant transformation, and neurodegenerative disorders (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Huntington's disease). In this review, we discuss the mechanisms that orchestrate all components of the UPS, as well as the plurality of the fine-tuning pathways of proteasomal degradation.

Nuclear Transport of Yeast Proteasomes

Proteasomes are key proteases in regulating protein homeostasis. Their holo-enzymes are composed of 40 different subunits which are arranged in a proteolytic core (CP) flanked by one to two regulatory particles (RP). Proteasomal proteolysis is essential for the degradation of proteins which control time-sensitive processes like cell cycle progression and stress response. In dividing yeast and human cells, proteasomes are primarily nuclear suggesting that proteasomal proteolysis is mainly required in the nucleus during cell proliferation. In yeast, which have a closed mitosis, proteasomes are imported into the nucleus as immature precursors via the classical import pathway. During quiescence, the reversible absence of proliferation induced by nutrient depletion or growth factor deprivation, proteasomes move from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm of quiescent yeast, proteasomes are dissociated into CP and RP and stored in membrane-less cytoplasmic foci, named proteasome storage granules (PSGs). With the resumption of growth, PSGs clear and mature proteasomes are transported into the nucleus by Blm10, a conserved 240 kDa protein and proteasome-intrinsic import receptor. How proteasomes are exported from the nucleus into the cytoplasm is unknown.

[Ubiquitin-independent protein degradation in proteasomes]

Proteasomes are large supramolecular protein complexes present in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, where they perform targeted degradation of intracellular proteins. Until recently, it was generally accepted that prior proteolytic degradation in proteasomes the proteins had to be targeted by ubiquitination: the ATP-dependent addition of (typically four sequential) residues of the low-molecular ubiquitin protein, involving the ubiquitin-activating enzyme, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme and ubiquitin ligase. The cytoplasm and nucleoplasm proteins labeled in this way are then digested in 26S proteasomes. However, in recent years it has become increasingly clear that using this route the cell eliminates only a part of unwanted proteins. Many proteins can be cleaved by the 20S proteasome in an ATP-independent manner and without previous ubiquitination. Ubiquitin-independent protein degradation in proteasomes is a relatively new area of studies of the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, recent data obtained in this direction already correct existing concepts about proteasomal degradation of proteins and its regulation. Ubiquitin-independent proteasome degradation needs the main structural precondition in proteins: the presence of unstructured regions in the amino acid sequences that provide interaction with the proteasome. Taking into consideration that in humans almost half of all genes encode proteins that contain a certain proportion of intrinsically disordered regions, it appears that the list of proteins undergoing ubiquitin-independent degradation will demonstrate further increase. Since 26S of proteasomes account for only 30% of the total proteasome content in mammalian cells, most of the proteasomes exist in the form of 20S complexes. The latter suggests that ubiquitin-independent proteolysis performed by the 20S proteasome is a natural process of removing damaged proteins from the cell and maintaining a constant level of intrinsically disordered proteins. In this case, the functional overload of proteasomes in aging and/or other types of pathological processes, if it is not accompanied by triggering more radical mechanisms for the elimination of damaged proteins, organelles and whole cells, has the most serious consequences for the whole organism.

The Role and Regulation of Autophagy and the Proteasome During Aging and Senescence in Plants

Aging and senescence in plants has a major impact on agriculture, such as in crop yield, the value of ornamental crops, and the shelf life of vegetables and fruits. Senescence represents the final developmental phase of the leaf and inevitably results in the death of the organ. Still, the process is completely under the control of the plant. Plants use their protein degradation systems to maintain proteostasis and transport or salvage nutrients from senescing organs to develop reproductive parts. Herein, we present an overview of current knowledge about the main protein degradation pathways in plants during senescence: The proteasome and autophagy. Although both pathways degrade proteins, autophagy appears to prevent aging, while the proteasome functions as a positive regulator of senescence.

Dissecting the molecular effects of cigarette smoke on proteasome function

Proteasome dysfunction is emerging as a novel pathomechanism for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a major leading cause of death in the world. Cigarette smoke, one of the main risk factors for COPD, impairs proteasome function in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we dissected the molecular changes induced by cigarette smoke on the proteasome in lung epithelial cells and mouse lungs. 26S proteasome pull-down, MS interactome, and stoichiometry analyses indicated that 26S proteasome complexes become instable in cigarette smoke-treated lung epithelial cells as well as in lungs of mice after three day smoke exposure. The interactome of the 26S was clearly altered in mouse lungs upon smoke exposure but not in cells after 24 h of smoke exposure. Using native MS analysis of purified 20S proteasomes, we observed some destabilization of 20S complexes purified from cigarette smoke-exposed cells in the absence of any dominant and inhibitory modification of proteasomal proteins. Taken together, our results suggest that cigarette smoke induces minor but detectable changes in the stability of 20S and 26S proteasome complexes which might contribute to imbalanced proteostasis in a chronic setting as observed in chronic lung diseases associated with cigarette smoking.

Phosphatase UBLCP1 controls proteasome assembly

Ubiquitin-like domain-containing C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 (UBLCP1), an FCP/SCP phosphatase family member, was identified as the first proteasome phosphatase. UBLCP1 binds to proteasome subunit Rpn1 and dephosphorylates the proteasome in vitro. However, it is still unclear which proteasome subunit(s) are the bona fide substrate(s) of UBLCP1 and the precise mechanism for proteasome regulation remains elusive. Here, we show that UBLCP1 selectively binds to the 19S regulatory particle (RP) through its interaction with Rpn1, but not the 20S core particle (CP) or the 26S proteasome holoenzyme. In the RP, UBLCP1 dephosphorylates the subunit Rpt1, impairs its ATPase activity, and consequently disrupts the 26S proteasome assembly, yet it has no effects on the RP assembly from precursor complexes. The Rpn1-binding and phosphatase activities of UBLCP1 are essential for its function on Rpt1 dephosphorylation and proteasome activity both in vivo and in vitro. Our study establishes the essential role of the UBLCP1/Rpn1/Rpt1 complex in regulating proteasome assembly.

Modifications of the 26S proteasome during boar sperm capacitation

Protein ubiquitination is a stable, reversible post-translational modification, targeting proteins for degradation/recycling by the 26S proteasome in a well-characterized enzymatic cascade. Studies have revealed the role of UPS in the regulation of fertilization, including sperm-zona pellucida interactions and the early event of sperm capacitation. The present study investigates the changes in proteasome compartmentalization, subunit composition and post-translational modifications during in vitro capacitation of fresh boar spermatozoa. We observed capacitation-dependent shedding of both 20S core and 19S regulatory particles from the acrosome that was associated with decreased plasma membrane integrity, independent of proteasomal inhibition. Subunits PSMA1-7 of the 20S core did not appear to undergo post-translational modifications during capacitation, based on invariant molecular masses before and after capacitation; however, we observed multiple PSMD4 forms of 19S regulatory particles (50, 53, 70, 115-140, 160 and >176 kDa) sequentially released from spermatozoa. PSMD4 subunit was found to be post-translationally modified during the course of capacitation, resulting in changes of apparent molecular mass, some of which were dependent on proteasomal inhibition. These results show that the sperm proteasomes are being modified during sperm capacitation. Additional studies of individual 26S proteasome subunits will be required to elucidate these modifications and to understand how UPS modulates sperm capacitation.

Regulating protein breakdown through proteasome phosphorylation

The ubiquitin proteasome system degrades the great majority of proteins in mammalian cells. Countless studies have described how ubiquitination promotes the selective degradation of different cell proteins. However, there is a small but the growing literature that protein half-lives can also be regulated by post-translational modifications of the 26S proteasome. The present study reviews the ability of several kinases to alter proteasome function through subunit phosphorylation. For example, PKA (protein kinase A) and DYRK2 (dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 2) stimulate the proteasome's ability to degrade ubiquitinated proteins, peptides, and adenosine triphosphate, while one kinase, ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1), inhibits proteasome function during apoptosis. Proteasome phosphorylation is likely to be important in regulating protein degradation because it occurs downstream from many hormones and neurotransmitters, in conditions that raise cyclic adenosine monophosphate or cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels, after calcium influx following synaptic depolarization, and during phases of the cell cycle. Beyond its physiological importance, pharmacological manipulation of proteasome phosphorylation has the potential to combat various diseases. Inhibitors of phosphodiesterases by activating PKA or PKG (protein kinase G) can stimulate proteasomal degradation of misfolded proteins that cause neurodegenerative or myocardial diseases and even reduce the associated pathology in mouse models. These observations are promising since in many proteotoxic diseases, aggregation-prone proteins impair proteasome function, and disrupt protein homeostasis. Conversely, preventing subunit phosphorylation by DYRK2 slows cell cycle progression and tumor growth. However, further research is essential to determine how phosphorylation of different subunits by these (or other) kinases alters the properties of this complex molecular machine and thus influence protein degradation rates.

The role of the immunoproteasome in interferon-γ-mediated microglial activation

Microglia regulate the brain microenvironment by sensing damage and neutralizing potentially harmful insults. Disruption of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis results in transition of microglia to a reactive state characterized by morphological changes and production of cytokines to prevent further damage to CNS tissue. Immunoproteasome levels are elevated in activated microglia in models of stroke, infection and traumatic brain injury, though the exact role of the immunoproteasome in neuropathology remains poorly defined. Using gene expression analysis and native gel electrophoresis we characterize the expression and assembly of the immunoproteasome in microglia following interferon-gamma exposure. Transcriptome analysis suggests that the immunoproteasome regulates multiple features of microglial activation including nitric oxide production and phagocytosis. We show that inhibiting the immunoproteasome attenuates expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppresses interferon-gamma-dependent priming of microglia. These results imply that targeting immunoproteasome function following CNS injury may attenuate select microglial activity to improve the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative conditions or the progress of inflammation-mediated secondary injury following neurotrauma.

The proteasome-interacting Ecm29 protein disassembles the 26S proteasome in response to oxidative stress

Oxidative stress has been implicated in multiple human neurological and other disorders. Proteasomes are multi-subunit proteases critical for the removal of oxidatively damaged proteins. To understand stress-associated human pathologies, it is important to uncover the molecular events underlying the regulation of proteasomes upon oxidative stress. To this end, we investigated H₂O₂ stress-induced molecular changes of the human 26S proteasome and determined that stress-induced 26S proteasome disassembly is conserved from yeast to human. Moreover, we developed and employed a new proteomic approach, XAP (in vivo cross-linking-assisted affinity purification), coupled with stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative MS, to capture and quantify several weakly bound proteasome-interacting proteins and examine their roles in stress-mediated proteasomal remodeling. Our results indicate that the adapter protein Ecm29 is the main proteasome-interacting protein responsible for stress-triggered remodeling of the 26S proteasome in human cells. Importantly, using a disuccinimidyl sulfoxide-based cross-linking MS platform, we mapped the interactions of Ecm29 within itself and with proteasome subunits and determined the architecture of the Ecm29-proteasome complex with integrative structure modeling. These results enabled us to propose a structural model in which Ecm29 intrudes on the interaction between the 20S core particle and the 19S regulatory particle in the 26S proteasome, disrupting the proteasome structure in response to oxidative stress.

Proteasomal and Autophagic Degradation Systems

Autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system are the two major quality control pathways responsible for cellular homeostasis. As such, they provide protection against age-associated changes and a plethora of human diseases. Ubiquitination is utilized as a degradation signal by both systems, albeit in different ways, to mark cargoes for proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. Both systems intersect and communicate at multiple points to coordinate their actions in proteostasis and organelle homeostasis. This review summarizes molecular details of how proteasome and autophagy pathways are functionally interconnected in cells and indicates common principles and nodes of communication that can be therapeutically exploited.

Proteasome dysfunction in cardiomyopathies

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a critical role in removing unwanted intracellular proteins and is involved in protein quality control, signalling and cell death. Because the heart is subject to continuous metabolic and mechanical stress, the proteasome plays a particularly important role in the heart, and proteasome dysfunction has been suggested as a causative factor in cardiac dysfunction. Proteasome impairment has been detected in cardiomyopathies, heart failure, myocardial ischaemia, and hypertrophy. Proteasome inhibition is also sufficient to cause cardiac dysfunction in healthy pigs, and patients using a proteasome inhibitor for cancer therapy have a higher incidence of heart failure. In this Topical Review we discuss the experimental data which suggest UPS dysfunction is a common feature of cardiomyopathies, with an emphasis on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by sarcomeric mutations. We also propose potential mechanisms by which cardiomyopathy-causing mutations may lead to proteasome impairment, such as altered calcium handling and increased oxidative stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Reversible phosphorylation of the 26S proteasome

The 26S proteasome at the center of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is essential for virtually all cellular processes of eukaryotes. A common misconception about the proteasome is that, once made, it remains as a static and uniform complex with spontaneous and constitutive activity for protein degradation. Recent discoveries have provided compelling evidence to support the exact opposite insomuch as the 26S proteasome undergoes dynamic and reversible phosphorylation under a variety of physiopathological conditions. In this review, we summarize the history and current understanding of proteasome phosphorylation, and advocate the idea of targeting proteasome kinases/phosphatases as a new strategy for clinical interventions of several human diseases.

Proteasome Activity Profiling Uncovers Alteration of Catalytic β2 and β5 Subunits of the Stress-Induced Proteasome during Salinity Stress in Tomato Roots

The stress proteasome in the animal kingdom facilitates faster conversion of oxidized proteins during stress conditions by incorporating different catalytic β subunits. Plants deal with similar kind of stresses and also carry multiple paralogous genes encoding for each of the three catalytic β subunits. Here, we investigated the existence of stress proteasomes upon abiotic stress (salt stress) in tomato roots. In contrast to Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato has a simplified proteasome gene set with single genes encoding each β subunit except for two genes encoding β2. Using proteasome activity profiling on tomato roots during salt stress, we discovered a transient modification of the catalytic subunits of the proteasome coinciding with a loss of cell viability. This stress-induced active proteasome disappears at later time points and coincides with the need to degrade oxidized proteins during salt stress. Subunit-selective proteasome probes and MS analysis of fluorescent 2D gels demonstrated that the detected stress-induced proteasome is not caused by an altered composition of subunits in active proteasomes, but involves an increased molecular weight of both labeled β2 and β5 subunits, and an additional acidic pI shift for labeled β5, whilst labeled β1 remains mostly unchanged. Treatment with phosphatase or glycosidases did not affect the migration pattern. This stress-induced proteasome may play an important role in PCD during abiotic stress.

Protein kinase CK2 modulates HSJ1 function through phosphorylation of the UIM2 domain

HSJ1 (DNAJB2), a member of the DNAJ family of molecular chaperones, is a key player in neuronal proteostasis maintenance. It binds ubiquitylated proteins through its Ubiquitin Interacting Motifs (UIMs) and facilitates their delivery to the proteasome for degradation. Mutations in the DNAJB2 gene lead to inherited neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth type-2, distal hereditary motor neuropathies, spinal muscular atrophy with parkinsonism and the later stages can resemble amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. HSJ1 overexpression can reduce aggregation of neurodegeneration-associated proteins in vitro and in vivo; however, the regulation of HSJ1 function is little understood. Here we show that CK2, a ubiquitous and constitutively active protein kinase, phosphorylates HSJ1 within its second UIM, at the dominant site Ser250 and the hierarchical site Ser247. A phospho-HSJ1 specific antibody confirmed phosphorylation of endogenous HSJ1a and HSJ1b. A tandem approach of phospho-site mutation and treatment with CK2 specific inhibitors demonstrated that phosphorylation at these sites is accompanied by a reduced ability of HSJ1 to bind ubiquitylated clients and to exert its chaperone activity. Our results disclose a novel interplay between ubiquitin- and phosphorylation-dependent signalling, and represent the first report of a regulatory mechanism for UIM-dependent function. They also suggest that CK2 inhibitors could release the full neuroprotective potential of HSJ1, and deserve future interest as therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disease.

Precise assembly and regulation of 26S proteasome and correlation between proteasome dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) often involve the formation of abnormal and toxic protein aggregates, which are thought to be the primary factor in ND occurrence and progression. Aged neurons exhibit marked increases in aggregated protein levels, which can lead to increased cell death in specific brain regions. As no specific drugs/therapies for treating the symptoms or/and progression of NDs are available, obtaining a complete understanding of the mechanism underlying the formation of protein aggregates is needed for designing a novel and efficient removal strategy. Intracellular proteolysis generally involves either the lysosomal or ubiquitin-proteasome system. In this review, we focus on the structure and assembly of the proteasome, proteasome-mediated protein degradation, and the multiple dynamic regulatory mechanisms governing proteasome activity. We also discuss the plausibility of the correlation between changes in proteasome activity and the occurrence of NDs. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(9): 459-473]

The proteasome regulates collagen-induced platelet aggregation via nuclear-factor-kappa-B (NFĸB) activation

INTRODUCTION

Platelets possess critical hemostatic functions in the system of thrombosis and hemostasis, which can be affected by a multitude of external factors. Previous research has shown that platelets have the capacity to synthesize proteins de novo and more recently a multicatalytic protein complex, the proteasome, has been discovered in platelets. Due to its vital function for cellular integrity, the proteasome has become a therapeutic target for anti-proliferative drug therapies in cancer. Clinically thrombocytopenia is a frequent side-effect, but the aggregatory function of platelets also appears to be affected. Little is known however about underlying regulatory mechanisms and functional aspects of proteasome inhibition on platelets. Our study aims to investigate the role of the proteasome in regulating collagen-induced platelet aggregation and its interaction with NFkB in this context.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using fluorescence activity assays, platelet aggregometry and immunoblotting, we investigate regulatory interactions of the proteasome and Nuclear-factor-kappa-B (NFkB) in collagen-induced platelet aggregation.

RESULTS

We show that collagen induces proteasome activation in platelets and collagen-induced platelet aggregation can be reduced with proteasome inhibition by the specific inhibitor epoxomicin. This effect does not depend on Rho-kinase/ROCK activation or thromboxane release, but rather depends on NFkB activation. Inhibition of the proteasome prevented cleavage of NFκB-inhibitor protein IκBα and decreased NFκB activity after collagen stimulation. Inhibition of the NFκB-pathway in return reduced collagen-induced platelet proteasome activity and cleavage of proteasome substrates.

CONCLUSIONS

This work offers novel explanations how the proteasome influences collagen-dependent platelet aggregation by involving non-genomic functions of NFkB.

The life cycle of the 26S proteasome: from birth, through regulation and function, and onto its death

The 26S proteasome is a large, ∼2.5 MDa, multi-catalytic ATP-dependent protease complex that serves as the degrading arm of the ubiquitin system, which is the major pathway for regulated degradation of cytosolic, nuclear and membrane proteins in all eukaryotic organisms.

Phosphorylation of the C-terminal tail of proteasome subunit α7 is required for binding of the proteasome quality control factor Ecm29

The proteasome degrades many short-lived proteins that are labeled with an ubiquitin chain. The identification of phosphorylation sites on the proteasome subunits suggests that degradation of these substrates can also be regulated at the proteasome. In yeast and humans, the unstructured C-terminal region of α7 contains an acidic patch with serine residues that are phosphorylated. Although these were identified more than a decade ago, the molecular implications of α7 phosphorylation have remained unknown. Here, we showed that yeast Ecm29, a protein involved in proteasome quality control, requires the phosphorylated tail of α7 for its association with proteasomes. This is the first example of proteasome phosphorylation dependent binding of a proteasome regulatory factor. Ecm29 is known to inhibit proteasomes and is often found enriched on mutant proteasomes. We showed that the ability of Ecm29 to bind to mutant proteasomes requires the α7 tail binding site, besides a previously characterized Rpt5 binding site. The need for these two binding sites, which are on different proteasome subcomplexes, explains the specificity of Ecm29 for proteasome holoenzymes. We propose that alterations in the relative position of these two sites in different conformations of the proteasome provides Ecm29 the ability to preferentially bind specific proteasome conformations.

Different effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs meclofenamate sodium and naproxen sodium on proteasome activity in cardiac cells

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like meclofenamate sodium (MS), used to reduce pain, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Naproxen (NAP), another NSAID, is not associated with increased risk of CVD. The molecular mechanism(s) by which NSAIDs induce CVD is unknown. We investigated the effects of MS and NAP on protein homeostasis and cardiotoxicity in rat cardiac H9c2 cells and murine neonatal cardiomyocytes. MS, but not NAP, significantly inhibited proteasome activity and reduced cardiac cell viability at pharmacological levels found in humans. Although proteasome subunit gene and protein expression were unaffected by NSAIDs, MS treated cell lysates showed higher 20S proteasome content, while purified proteasomes from MS treated cells had lower proteasome activity and higher levels of oxidized subunits than proteasomes from control cells. Addition of exogenous proteasome to MS treated cells improved cell viability. Both MS and NAP increased ROS production, but the rate of ROS production was greater in MS than in NAP treated cells. The ROS production is likely from mitochondria, as MS inhibited mitochondrial Complexes I and III, major sources of ROS, while NAP inhibited Complex I. MS also impaired mitochondrial membrane potential while NAP did not. Antioxidants were able to prevent the reduced cell viability caused by MS treatment. These results suggest that NSAIDs induce cardiotoxicity by a ROS dependent mechanism involving mitochondrial and proteasome dysfunction and may explain why some NSAIDs should not be given to patients for long periods.

Site-specific proteasome phosphorylation controls cell proliferation and tumorigenesis

Despite the fundamental importance of proteasomal degradation in cells, little is known about whether and how the 26S proteasome itself is regulated in coordination with various physiological processes. Here we show that the proteasome is dynamically phosphorylated during the cell cycle at Thr 25 of the 19S subunit Rpt3. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, RNA interference and biochemical studies demonstrate that blocking Rpt3-Thr25 phosphorylation markedly impairs proteasome activity and impedes cell proliferation. Through a kinome-wide screen, we have identified dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 2 (DYRK2) as the primary kinase that phosphorylates Rpt3-Thr25, leading to enhanced substrate translocation and degradation. Importantly, loss of the single phosphorylation of Rpt3-Thr25 or knockout of DYRK2 significantly inhibits tumour formation by proteasome-addicted human breast cancer cells in mice. These findings define an important mechanism for proteasome regulation and demonstrate the biological significance of proteasome phosphorylation in regulating cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.

UPS Activation in the Battle Against Aging and Aggregation-Related Diseases: An Extended Review

Aging is a biological process accompanied by gradual increase of damage in all cellular macromolecules, i.e., nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. When the proteostasis network (chaperones and proteolytic systems) cannot reverse the damage load due to its excess as compared to cellular repair/regeneration capacity, failure of homeostasis is established. This failure is a major hallmark of aging and/or aggregation-related diseases. Dysfunction of the major cellular proteolytic machineries, namely the proteasome and the lysosome, has been reported during the progression of aging and aggregation-prone diseases. Therefore, activation of these pathways is considered as a possible preventive or therapeutic approach against the progression of these processes. This chapter focuses on UPS activation studies in cellular and organismal models and the effects of such activation on aging, longevity and disease prevention or reversal.

cAMP-induced phosphorylation of 26S proteasomes on Rpn6/PSMD11 enhances their activity and the degradation of misfolded proteins

Although rates of protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPS) are determined by their rates of ubiquitination, we show here that the proteasome's capacity to degrade ubiquitinated proteins is also tightly regulated. We studied the effects of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) on proteolysis by the UPS in several mammalian cell lines. Various agents that raise intracellular cAMP and activate PKA (activators of adenylate cyclase or inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4) promoted degradation of short-lived (but not long-lived) cell proteins generally, model UPS substrates having different degrons, and aggregation-prone proteins associated with major neurodegenerative diseases, including mutant FUS (Fused in sarcoma), SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1), TDP43 (TAR DNA-binding protein 43), and tau. 26S proteasomes purified from these treated cells or from control cells and treated with PKA degraded ubiquitinated proteins, small peptides, and ATP more rapidly than controls, but not when treated with protein phosphatase. Raising cAMP levels also increased amounts of doubly capped 26S proteasomes. Activated PKA phosphorylates the 19S subunit, Rpn6/PSMD11 (regulatory particle non-ATPase 6/proteasome subunit D11) at Ser14. Overexpression of a phosphomimetic Rpn6 mutant activated proteasomes similarly, whereas a nonphosphorylatable mutant decreased activity. Thus, proteasome function and protein degradation are regulated by cAMP through PKA and Rpn6, and activation of proteasomes by this mechanism may be useful in treating proteotoxic diseases.

Identification of an unstable 4-hydroxynoneal modification on the 20S proteasome subunit α7 by recombinant antibody technology

Numerous cellular functions rely on an active proteasome allowing degradation of damaged or misfolded proteins. Therefore changes in the proteasomal activity have important physiological consequences. During oxidative stress the production of free radicals can result in the formation of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) following lipid peroxidiation. The HNE moiety is highly reactive and via a nucleophilic attack readily forms covalent links to cysteine, histidine and lysine side chains. However, as the chemical properties of these amino acids differ, so does the kinetics of the reactions. While covalent linkage through Michael addition is well established, reversible and unstable associations have only been indicated in a few cases. In the present study we have identified an unstable HNE adduct on the α7 subunit of the 20S proteasome using phage display of recombinant antibodies. This recombinant antibody fragment recognized HNE modified proteasomes in vitro and showed that this epitope was easily HNE modified, yet unstable, and influenced by experimental procedures. Hence unstable HNE-adducts could be overlooked as a regulatory mechanism of proteasomal activity and a participating factor in the decreased proteasomal activity associated with oxidative stress.

Biological significance of co- and post-translational modifications of the yeast 26S proteasome

In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), co- and post-translational modifications of the 26S proteasome, a large protein complex, were comprehensively detected by proteomic techniques, and their functions were investigated. The presence, number, site, and state of co- and post-translational modifications of the 26S proteasome differ considerably among yeast, human, and mouse. The roles of phosphorylation, N(α)-acetylation, N(α)-myristoylation, N(α)-methylation, and N-terminal truncation in the yeast 26S proteasome were investigated. Although there is only one modification site for either N(α)-acetylation, N(α)-myristoylation, or N(α)-methylation, these modifications play an important role in the functions of the yeast proteasome. In contrast, there are many phosphorylation sites in the yeast 26S proteasome. However, the phosphorylation patterns might be a few, suggesting that tiny modifications exert considerable effects on the function of the proteasome.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Protein co- and post-translational modifications produce different protein species which often have different functions. The yeast 26S proteasome, a large protein complex, consisting of many subunits has a number of co- and post-translational modification sites. This review describes the effects of the modifications on the function of the protein complex. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein species. Guest Editors: Peter Jungblut, Hartmut Schlüter and Bernd Thiede.

Redox control of protein degradation

Intracellular proteolysis is critical to maintain timely degradation of altered proteins including oxidized proteins. This review attempts to summarize the most relevant findings about oxidant protein modification, as well as the impact of reactive oxygen species on the proteolytic systems that regulate cell response to an oxidant environment: the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), autophagy and the unfolded protein response (UPR). In the presence of an oxidant environment, these systems are critical to ensure proteostasis and cell survival. An example of altered degradation of oxidized proteins in pathology is provided for neurodegenerative diseases. Future work will determine if protein oxidation is a valid target to combat proteinopathies.

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Proteins undergo reversible and irreversible redox modifications.

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Oxidized proteins are cleared mainly through the 20S proteasome and autophagy.

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The proteolytic systems exhibit a dynamic crosstalk to adapt to redox alterations.

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Protein oxidation together with impaired degradation are linked to neurodegeneration.

Nuclear Import of Yeast Proteasomes

Proteasomes are highly conserved protease complexes responsible for the degradation of aberrant and short-lived proteins. In highly proliferating yeast and mammalian cells, proteasomes are predominantly nuclear. During quiescence and cell cycle arrest, proteasomes accumulate in granules in close proximity to the nuclear envelope/ER. With prolonged quiescence in yeast, these proteasome granules pinch off as membraneless organelles, and migrate as stable entities through the cytoplasm. Upon exit from quiescence, the proteasome granules clear and the proteasomes are rapidly transported into the nucleus, a process reflecting the dynamic nature of these multisubunit complexes. Due to the scarcity of studies on the nuclear transport of mammalian proteasomes, we summarised the current knowledge on the nuclear import of yeast proteasomes. This pathway uses canonical nuclear localisation signals within proteasomal subunits and Srp1/Kap95, and the canonical import receptor, named importin/karyopherin αβ. Blm10, a conserved 240 kDa protein, which is structurally related to Kap95, provides an alternative import pathway. Two models exist upon which either inactive precursor complexes or active holo-enzymes serve as the import cargo. Here, we reconcile both models and suggest that the import of inactive precursor complexes predominates in dividing cells, while the import of mature enzymes mainly occurs upon exit from quiescence.

Rice stripe tenuivirus nonstructural protein 3 hijacks the 26S proteasome of the small brown planthopper via direct interaction with regulatory particle non-ATPase subunit 3

The ubiquitin/26S proteasome system plays a vital role in regulating host defenses against pathogens. Previous studies have highlighted different roles for the ubiquitin/26S proteasome in defense during virus infection in both mammals and plants, but their role in the vectors that transmit those viruses is still unclear. In this study, we determined that the 26S proteasome is present in the small brown planthopper (SBPH) (Laodelphax striatellus) and has components similar to those in plants and mammals. There was an increase in the accumulation of Rice stripe virus (RSV) in the transmitting vector SBPH after disrupting the 26S proteasome, indicating that the SBPH 26S proteasome plays a role in defense against RSV infection by regulating RSV accumulation. Yeast two-hybrid analysis determined that a subunit of the 26S proteasome, named RPN3, could interact with RSV NS3. Transient overexpression of RPN3 had no effect on the RNA silencing suppressor activity of RSV NS3. However, NS3 could inhibit the ability of SBPH rpn3 to complement an rpn3 mutation in yeast. Our findings also indicate that the direct interaction between RPN3 and NS3 was responsible for inhibiting the complementation ability of RPN3. In vivo, we found an accumulation of ubiquitinated protein in SBPH tissues where the RSV titer was high, and silencing of rpn3 resulted in malfunction of the SBPH proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Consequently, viruliferous SBPH in which RPN3 was repressed transmitted the virus more effectively as a result of higher accumulation of RSV. Our results suggest that the RSV NS3 protein is able to hijack the 26S proteasome in SBPH via a direct interaction with the RPN3 subunit to attenuate the host defense response.

IMPORTANCE

We show, for the first time, that the 26S proteasome components are present in the small brown planthopper and play a role in defense against its vectored plant virus (RSV). In turn, RSV encodes a protein that subverts the SBPH 26S proteasome via direct interaction with the 26S proteasome subunit RPN3. Our results imply that the molecular arms race observed in plant hosts can be extended to the insect vector that transmits those viruses.

Regulation of the proteasome: evaluating the lung proteasome as a new therapeutic target

SIGNIFICANCE

Lung diseases are on the second rank worldwide with respect to morbidity and mortality. For most respiratory diseases, no effective therapies exist. Whereas the proteasome has been successfully evaluated as a novel target for therapeutic interventions in cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiac disorders, there is a profound lack of knowledge on the regulation of proteasome activity in chronic and acute lung diseases.

RECENT ADVANCES

There are various means of how the amount of active proteasome complexes in the cell can be regulated such as transcriptional regulation of proteasomal subunit expression, association with different regulators, assembly and half-life of proteasomes and regulatory complexes, as well as post-translational modifications. It also becomes increasingly evident that proteasome activity is fine-tuned and depends on the state of the cell. We propose here that 20S proteasomes and their regulators can be regarded as dynamic building blocks, which assemble or disassemble in response to cellular needs. The composition of proteasome complexes in a cell may vary depending on tissue, cell type and compartment, stage of development, or pathological context.

CRITICAL ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Dissecting the expression and regulation of the various catalytic forms of 20S proteasomes, such as constitutive, immuno-, and mixed proteasomes, together with their associated regulatory complexes will not only greatly enhance our understanding of proteasome function in lung pathogenesis but will also pave the way to develop new classes of drugs that inhibit or activate proteasome function in a defined setting for treatment of lung diseases.

Proteasome assembly

In eukaryotic cells, proteasomes are highly conserved protease complexes and eliminate unwanted proteins which are marked by poly-ubiquitin chains for degradation. The 26S proteasome consists of the proteolytic core particle, the 20S proteasome, and the 19S regulatory particle, which are composed of 14 and 19 different subunits, respectively. Proteasomes are the second-most abundant protein complexes and are continuously assembled from inactive precursor complexes in proliferating cells. The modular concept of proteasome assembly was recognized in prokaryotic ancestors and applies to eukaryotic successors. The efficiency and fidelity of eukaryotic proteasome assembly is achieved by several proteasome-dedicated chaperones that initiate subunit incorporation and control the quality of proteasome assemblies by transiently interacting with proteasome precursors. It is important to understand the mechanism of proteasome assembly as the proteasome has key functions in the turnover of short-lived proteins regulating diverse biological processes.

Regulation of protein turnover by heat shock proteins

Protein turnover reflects the balance between synthesis and degradation of proteins, and it is a crucial process for the maintenance of the cellular protein pool. The folding of proteins, refolding of misfolded proteins, and also degradation of misfolded and damaged proteins are involved in the protein quality control (PQC) system. Correct protein folding and degradation are controlled by many different factors, one of the most important of which is the heat shock protein family. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are in the class of molecular chaperones, which may prevent the inappropriate interaction of proteins and induce correct folding. On the other hand, these proteins play significant roles in the degradation pathways, including endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and autophagy. This review focuses on the emerging role of HSPs in the regulation of protein turnover; the effects of HSPs on the degradation machineries ERAD, autophagy, and proteasome; as well as the role of posttranslational modifications in the PQC system.

The amazing ubiquitin-proteasome system: structural components and implication in aging

Proteome quality control (PQC) is critical for the maintenance of cellular functionality and it is assured by the curating activity of the proteostasis network (PN). PN is constituted of several complex protein machines that under conditions of proteome instability aim to, firstly identify, and then, either rescue or degrade nonnative polypeptides. Central to the PN functionality is the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) which is composed from the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and the proteasome; the latter is a sophisticated multi-subunit molecular machine that functions in a bimodal way as it degrades both short-lived ubiquitinated normal proteins and nonfunctional polypeptides. UPS is also involved in PQC of the nucleus, the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria and it also interacts with the other main cellular degradation axis, namely the autophagy-lysosome system. UPS functionality is optimum in the young organism but it is gradually compromised during aging resulting in increasing proteotoxic stress; these effects correlate not only with aging but also with most age-related diseases. Herein, we present a synopsis of the UPS components and of their functional alterations during cellular senescence or in vivo aging. We propose that mild UPS activation in the young organism will, likely, promote antiaging effects and/or suppress age-related diseases.