1
|
Ju D, Wu S, Li L, Xie Y. Ubiquitylation-independent cotranslational degradation of dihydrofolate reductase and ubiquitin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 702:149651. [PMID: 38350414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Nascent proteins are degraded during or immediately after synthesis, a process called cotranslational protein degradation (CTPD). Although CTPD was observed decades ago, it has never been fully explored mechanistically and functionally. We show here that dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and ubiquitin (Ub), two stable proteins widely used in protein degradation studies, are actually subject to CTPD. Unlike canonical posttranslational protein degradation, CTPD of DHFR and Ub does not require prior ubiquitylation. Our data also suggest that protein expression level and N-terminal folding pattern may be two critical determinants for CTPD. Thus, this study reveals that CTPD plays a role in regulating the homeostasis of long-lived proteins and provides insights into the mechanism of CTPD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donghong Ju
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Shichao Wu
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Youming Xie
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
| |
Collapse
|