The proteasome-associated protein Ecm29 inhibits proteasomal ATPase activity and in vivo protein degradation by the proteasome

Activity-Guided Proteomic Profiling of Proteasomes Uncovers a Variety of Active (and Inactive) Proteasome Species

Proteasomes are multisubunit, multicatalytic protein complexes present in eukaryotic cells that degrade misfolded, damaged, or unstructured proteins. In this study, we used an activity-guided proteomic methodology based on a fluorogenic peptide substrate to characterize the composition of proteasome complexes in WT yeast and the changes these complexes undergo upon the deletion of Pre9 (Δα3) or of Sem1 (ΔSem1). A comparison of whole-cell proteomic analysis to activity-guided proteasome profiling indicates that the amounts of proteasomal proteins and proteasome interacting proteins in the assembled active proteasomes differ significantly from their total amounts in the cell as a whole. Using this activity-guided profiling approach, we characterized the changes in the abundance of subunits of various active proteasome species in different strains, quantified the relative abundance of active proteasomes across these strains, and charted the overall distribution of different proteasome species within each strain. The distributions obtained by our mass spectrometry-based quantification were markedly higher for some proteasome species than those obtained by activity-based quantification alone, suggesting that the activity of some of these species is impaired. The impaired activity appeared mostly among 20SBlm10 proteasome species which account for 20% of the active proteasomes in WT. To identify the factors behind this impaired activity, we mapped and quantified known proteasome-interacting proteins. Our results suggested that some of the reduced activity might be due to the association of the proteasome inhibitor Fub1. Additionally, we provide novel evidence for the presence of nonmature and therefore inactive proteasomal protease subunits β2 and β5 in the fully assembled proteasomes.

A novel endoplasmic reticulum adaptation is critical for the long-lived Caenorhabditis elegans rpn-10 proteasomal mutant

The loss of proteostasis due to reduced efficiency of protein degradation pathways plays a key role in multiple age-related diseases and is a hallmark of the aging process. Paradoxically, we have previously reported that the Caenorhabditis elegans rpn-10(ok1865) mutant, which lacks the RPN-10/RPN10/PSMD4 subunit of the 19S regulatory particle of the 26S proteasome, exhibits enhanced cytosolic proteostasis, elevated stress resistance and extended lifespan, despite possessing reduced proteasome function. However, the response of this mutant against threats to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and proteostasis was unknown. Here, we find that the rpn-10 mutant is highly ER stress resistant compared to the wildtype. Under unstressed conditions, the ER unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in the rpn-10 mutant as signified by increased xbp-1 splicing. This primed response appears to alter ER homeostasis through the upregulated expression of genes involved in ER protein quality control (ERQC), including those in the ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway. Pertinently, we find that ERQC is critical for the rpn-10 mutant longevity. These changes also alter ER proteostasis, as studied using the C. elegans alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency model, which comprises an intestinal ER-localised transgenic reporter of an aggregation-prone form of AAT called ATZ. The rpn-10 mutant shows a significant reduction in the accumulation of the ATZ reporter, thus indicating that its ER proteostasis is augmented. Via a genetic screen for suppressors of decreased ATZ aggregation in the rpn-10 mutant, we then identified ecps-2/H04D03.3, a novel ortholog of the proteasome-associated adaptor and scaffold protein ECM29/ECPAS. We further show that ecps-2 is required for improved ER proteostasis as well as lifespan extension of the rpn-10 mutant. Thus, we propose that ECPS-2-proteasome functional interactions, alongside additional putative molecular processes, contribute to a novel ERQC adaptation which underlies the superior proteostasis and longevity of the rpn-10 mutant.

Inhibition of the Proteasome Regulator PA28 Aggravates Oxidized Protein Overload in the Diabetic Rat Brain

Oxidized protein overloading caused by diabetes is one accelerating pathological pathway in diabetic encephalopathy development. To determine whether the PA28-regulated function of the proteasome plays a role in diabetes-induced oxidative damaged protein degradation, brain PA28α and PA28β interference experiments were performed in a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model. The present results showed that proteasome activity was changed in the brains of diabetic rats, but the constitutive subunits were not. In vivo PA28α and PA28β inhibition via adeno-associated virus (AAV) shRNA infection successfully decreased PA28 protein levels and further exacerbated oxidized proteins load by regulating proteasome catalytic activity. These findings suggest that the proteasome plays a role in the elimination of oxidized proteins and that PA28 is functionally involved in the regulation of proteasome activity in vivo. This study suggests that abnormal protein turbulence occurring in the diabetic brain could be explained by the proteasome-mediated degradation pathway. Changes in proteasome activity regulator PA28 could be a reason to induce oxidative aggregation in diabetic brain. Proteasome regulator PA28 inhibition in vivo by AAV vector injection could aggravate oxidized proteins abundance in brain of HFD-STZ diabetic rat model.

Effector-mediated subversion of proteasome activator (PA)28αβ enhances host defense against Legionella pneumophila under inflammatory and oxidative stress conditions

Legionella pneumophila is a natural pathogen of amoebae that causes Legionnaires' Disease in immunocompromised individuals via replication within macrophages. L. pneumophila virulence and intracellular replication hinges on hundreds of Dot/Icm-translocated effector proteins, which are essential for biogenesis of the replication-permissive Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). However, effector activity can also enhance mammalian host defense via effector-triggered immunity. The L. pneumophila effector LegC4 is important for virulence in amoebae but enhances host defense against L. pneumophila in the mouse lung and, uniquely, within macrophages activated with either tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interferon (IFN)-γ. The mechanism by which LegC4 potentiates cytokine-mediated host defense in macrophages is unknown. Here, we found that LegC4 enhances cytokine-mediated phagolysosomal fusion with Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) and binds host proteasome activator (PA)28α, which forms a heterooligomer with PA28β to facilitate ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of oxidant-damaged (carbonylated) proteins. We found that oxidative stress was sustained in the presence of LegC4 and that the LegC4 restriction phenotype was relieved in PA28αβ-deficient macrophages and in the lungs of mice in vivo. Our data also show that oxidative stress is sufficient for LegC4-mediated restriction in macrophages producing PA28αβ. PA28αβ has been traditionally associated with antigen presentation; however, our data support a novel mechanism whereby effector-mediated subversion of PA28αβ enhances cell-autonomous host defense against L. pneumophila under inflammatory and oxidative stress conditions. This work provides a solid foundation to evaluate induced proteasome regulators as mediators of innate immunity.

Assembly chaperone Nas6 selectively destabilizes 26S proteasomes with defective regulatory particle-core particle interfaces

The 26S proteasome is a 66-subunit-chambered protease present in all eukaryotes that maintains organismal health by degrading unneeded or defective proteins. Defects in proteasome function or assembly are known to contribute to the development of various cancers, neurodegeneration, and diabetes. During proteasome biogenesis, a family of evolutionarily conserved chaperones assembles a hexameric ring of AAA+ family ATPase subunits contained within the proteasomal regulatory particle (RP) and guide their docking onto the surface of the proteolytic core particle (CP). This RP-CP interaction couples the substrate capture and unfolding process to proteolysis. We previously reported a mutation in the proteasome that promoted dissociation of the RP and CP by one of these chaperones, Nas6. However, the nature of the signal for Nas6-dependent proteasome disassembly and the generality of this postassembly proteasome quality control function for Nas6 remain unknown. Here, we use structure-guided mutagenesis and in vitro proteasome disassembly assays to demonstrate that Nas6 more broadly destabilizes 26S proteasomes with a defective RP-CP interface. We show that Nas6 can promote dissociation of mature proteasomes into RP and CP in cells harboring defects on either side of the RP-CP interface. This function is unique to Nas6 and independent from other known RP assembly chaperones. Further biochemical experiments suggest that Nas6 may exploit a weakened RP-CP interface to dissociate the RP from the CP. We propose that this postassembly role of Nas6 may fulfill a quality control function in cells by promoting the recycling of functional subcomplexes contained within defective proteasomes.

Targeting immunoproteasome in neurodegeneration: A glance to the future

The immunoproteasome is a specialized form of proteasome equipped with modified catalytic subunits that was initially discovered to play a pivotal role in MHC class I antigen processing and immune system modulation. However, over the last years, this proteolytic complex has been uncovered to serve additional functions unrelated to antigen presentation. Accordingly, it has been proposed that immunoproteasome synergizes with canonical proteasome in different cell types of the nervous system, regulating neurotransmission, metabolic pathways and adaptation of the cells to redox or inflammatory insults. Hence, studying the alterations of immunoproteasome expression and activity is gaining research interest to define the dynamics of neuroinflammation as well as the early and late molecular events that are likely involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of neurological disorders. Furthermore, these novel functions foster the perspective of immunoproteasome as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegeneration. In this review, we provide a brain and retina-wide overview, trying to correlate present knowledge on structure-function relationships of immunoproteasome with the variety of observed neuro-modulatory functions.

Ecm29-Dependent Proteasome Localization Regulates Cytoskeleton Remodeling at the Immune Synapse

The formation of an immune synapse (IS) enables B cells to capture membrane-tethered antigens, where cortical actin cytoskeleton remodeling regulates cell spreading and depletion of F-actin at the centrosome promotes the recruitment of lysosomes to facilitate antigen extraction. How B cells regulate both pools of actin, remains poorly understood. We report here that decreased F-actin at the centrosome and IS relies on the distribution of the proteasome, regulated by Ecm29. Silencing Ecm29 decreases the proteasome pool associated to the centrosome of B cells and shifts its accumulation to the cell cortex and IS. Accordingly, Ecm29-silenced B cells display increased F-actin at the centrosome, impaired centrosome and lysosome repositioning to the IS and defective antigen extraction and presentation. Ecm29-silenced B cells, which accumulate higher levels of proteasome at the cell cortex, display decreased actin retrograde flow in lamellipodia and enhanced spreading responses. Our findings support a model where B the asymmetric distribution of the proteasome, mediated by Ecm29, coordinates actin dynamics at the centrosome and the IS, promoting lysosome recruitment and cell spreading.

Proteasome activator Blm10 levels and autophagic degradation directly impact the proteasome landscape

The proteasome selectively degrades proteins. It consists of a core particle (CP), which contains proteolytic active sites that can associate with different regulators to form various complexes. How these different complexes are regulated and affected by changing physiological conditions, however, remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the activator Blm10 and the regulatory particle (RP). In yeast, increased expression of Blm10 outcompeted RP for CP binding, which suggests that controlling the cellular levels of Blm10 can affect the relative amounts of RP-bound CP. While strong overexpression of BLM10 almost eliminated the presence of RP-CP complexes, the phenotypes this should induce were not observed. Our results show this was due to the induction of Blm10-CP autophagy under prolonged growth in YPD. Similarly, under conditions of endogenous BLM10 expression, Blm10 was degraded through autophagy as well. This suggests that reducing the levels of Blm10 allows for more CP-binding surfaces and the formation of RP-CP complexes under nutrient stress. This work provides important insights into maintaining the proteasome landscape and how protein expression levels affect proteasome function.

Structure, Dynamics and Function of the 26S Proteasome

The 26S proteasome is the most complex ATP-dependent protease machinery, of ~2.5 MDa mass, ubiquitously found in all eukaryotes. It selectively degrades ubiquitin-conjugated proteins and plays fundamentally indispensable roles in regulating almost all major aspects of cellular activities. To serve as the sole terminal "processor" for myriad ubiquitylation pathways, the proteasome evolved exceptional adaptability in dynamically organizing a large network of proteins, including ubiquitin receptors, shuttle factors, deubiquitinases, AAA-ATPase unfoldases, and ubiquitin ligases, to enable substrate selectivity and processing efficiency and to achieve regulation precision of a vast diversity of substrates. The inner working of the 26S proteasome is among the most sophisticated, enigmatic mechanisms of enzyme machinery in eukaryotic cells. Recent breakthroughs in three-dimensional atomic-level visualization of the 26S proteasome dynamics during polyubiquitylated substrate degradation elucidated an extensively detailed picture of its functional mechanisms, owing to progressive methodological advances associated with cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Multiple sites of ubiquitin binding in the proteasome revealed a canonical mode of ubiquitin-dependent substrate engagement. The proteasome conformation in the act of substrate deubiquitylation provided insights into how the deubiquitylating activity of RPN11 is enhanced in the holoenzyme and is coupled to substrate translocation. Intriguingly, three principal modes of coordinated ATP hydrolysis in the heterohexameric AAA-ATPase motor  were discovered to regulate intermediate functional steps of the proteasome, including ubiquitin-substrate engagement, deubiquitylation, initiation of substrate translocation and processive substrate degradation. The atomic dissection of the innermost working of the 26S proteasome opens up a new era in our understanding of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and has far-reaching implications in health and disease.

Tagging the proteasome active site β5 causes tag specific phenotypes in yeast

The efficient and timely degradation of proteins is crucial for many cellular processes and to maintain general proteostasis. The proteasome, a complex multisubunit protease, plays a critical role in protein degradation. Therefore, it is important to understand the assembly, regulation, and localization of proteasome complexes in the cell under different conditions. Fluorescent tags are often utilized to study proteasomes. A GFP-tag on the β5 subunit, one of the core particle (CP) subunits with catalytic activity, has been shown to be incorporated into proteasomes and commonly used by the field. We report here that a tag on this subunit results in aberrant phenotypes that are not observed when several other CP subunits are tagged. These phenotypes appear in combination with other proteasome mutations and include poor growth, and, more significantly, altered 26S proteasome localization. In strains defective for autophagy, β5-GFP tagged proteasomes, unlike other CP tags, localize to granules upon nitrogen starvation. These granules are reflective of previously described proteasome storage granules but display unique properties. This suggests proteasomes with a β5-GFP tag are specifically recognized and sequestered depending on physiological conditions. In all, our data indicate the intricacy of tagging proteasomes, and possibly, large complexes in general.

Keeping in Touch with Type-III Secretion System Effectors: Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics to Study Effector-Host Protein-Protein Interactions

Manipulation of host cellular processes by translocated bacterial effectors is key to the success of bacterial pathogens and some symbionts. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of effectors is of critical importance to understand infection biology. It has become increasingly clear that the identification of host protein targets contributes invaluable knowledge to the characterization of effector function during pathogenesis. Recent advances in mapping protein-protein interaction networks by means of mass spectrometry-based interactomics have enabled the identification of host targets at large-scale. In this review, we highlight mass spectrometry-driven proteomics strategies and recent advances to elucidate type-III secretion system effector-host protein-protein interactions. Furthermore, we highlight approaches for defining spatial and temporal effector-host interactions, and discuss possible avenues for studying natively delivered effectors in the context of infection. Overall, the knowledge gained when unravelling effector complexation with host factors will provide novel opportunities to control infectious disease outcomes.

Ecm29-mediated proteasomal distribution modulates excitatory GABA responses in the developing brain

Neuronal GABAergic responses switch from excitatory to inhibitory at an early postnatal period in rodents. The timing of this switch is controlled by intracellular Cl⁻ concentrations, but factors determining local levels of cation-chloride cotransporters remain elusive. Here, we report that local abundance of the chloride importer NKCC1 and timely emergence of GABAergic inhibition are modulated by proteasome distribution, which is mediated through interactions of proteasomes with the adaptor Ecm29 and the axon initial segment (AIS) scaffold protein ankyrin G. Mechanistically, both the Ecm29 N-terminal domain and an intact AIS structure are required for transport and tethering of proteasomes in the AIS region. In mice, Ecm29 knockout (KO) in neurons increases the density of NKCC1 protein in the AIS region, a change that positively correlates with a delay in the GABAergic response switch. Phenotypically, Ecm29 KO mice showed increased firing frequency of action potentials at early postnatal ages and were hypersusceptible to chemically induced convulsive seizures. Finally, Ecm29 KO neurons exhibited accelerated AIS developmental positioning, reflecting a perturbed AIS morphological plastic response to hyperexcitability arising from proteasome inhibition, a phenotype rescued by ectopic Ecm29 expression or NKCC1 inhibition. Together, our findings support the idea that neuronal maturation requires regulation of proteasomal distribution controlled by Ecm29.

The Capture of a Disabled Proteasome Identifies Erg25 as a Substrate for Endoplasmic Reticulum Associated Degradation

Studies in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have helped define mechanisms underlying the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), uncover the proteasome assembly pathway, and link the UPS to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. However, the spectrum of UPS substrates is incompletely defined, even though multiple techniques-including MS-have been used. Therefore, we developed a substrate trapping proteomics workflow to identify previously unknown UPS substrates. We first generated a yeast strain with an epitope tagged proteasome subunit to which a proteasome inhibitor could be applied. Parallel experiments utilized inhibitor insensitive strains or strains lacking the tagged subunit. After affinity isolation, enriched proteins were resolved, in-gel digested, and analyzed by high resolution liquid chromatography-tandem MS. A total of 149 proteasome partners were identified, including all 33 proteasome subunits. When we next compared data between inhibitor sensitive and resistant cells, 27 proteasome partners were significantly enriched. Among these proteins were known UPS substrates and proteins that escort ubiquitinated substrates to the proteasome. We also detected Erg25 as a high-confidence partner. Erg25 is a methyl oxidase that converts dimethylzymosterol to zymosterol, a precursor of the plasma membrane sterol, ergosterol. Because Erg25 is a resident of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and had not previously been directly characterized as a UPS substrate, we asked whether Erg25 is a target of the ER associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, which most commonly mediates proteasome-dependent destruction of aberrant proteins. As anticipated, Erg25 was ubiquitinated and associated with stalled proteasomes. Further, Erg25 degradation depended on ERAD-associated ubiquitin ligases and was regulated by sterol synthesis. These data expand the cohort of lipid biosynthetic enzymes targeted for ERAD, highlight the role of the UPS in maintaining ER function, and provide a novel tool to uncover other UPS substrates via manipulations of our engineered strain.

The proteasome as a druggable target with multiple therapeutic potentialities: Cutting and non-cutting edges

Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) is an adaptable and finely tuned system that sustains proteostasis network under a large variety of physiopathological conditions. Its dysregulation is often associated with the onset and progression of human diseases; hence, UPS modulation has emerged as a promising new avenue for the development of treatments of several relevant pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegeneration. The clinical interest in proteasome inhibition has considerably increased after the FDA approval in 2003 of bortezomib for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, which is now used in the front-line setting. Thereafter, two other proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib and ixazomib), designed to overcome resistance to bortezomib, have been approved for treatment-experienced patients, and a variety of novel inhibitors are currently under preclinical and clinical investigation not only for haematological malignancies but also for solid tumours. However, since UPS collapse leads to toxic misfolded proteins accumulation, proteasome is attracting even more interest as a target for the care of neurodegenerative diseases, which are sustained by UPS impairment. Thus, conceptually, proteasome activation represents an innovative and largely unexplored target for drug development. According to a multidisciplinary approach, spanning from chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology to pharmacology, this review will summarize the most recent available literature regarding different aspects of proteasome biology, focusing on structure, function and regulation of proteasome in physiological and pathological processes, mostly cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, connecting biochemical features and clinical studies of proteasome targeting drugs.

Spatial Organization of Proteasome Aggregates in the Regulation of Proteasome Homeostasis

Misfolded proteins and insoluble aggregates are continuously produced in the cell and can result in severe stress that threatens cellular fitness and viability if not managed effectively. Accordingly, organisms have evolved several protective protein quality control (PQC) machineries to address these threats. In eukaryotes, the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) plays a vital role in the disposal of intracellular misfolded, damaged, or unneeded proteins. Although ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of many proteins plays a key role in the PQC system, cells must also dispose of the proteasomes themselves when their subunits are assembled improperly, or when they dysfunction under various conditions, e.g., as a result of genomic mutations, diverse stresses, or treatment with proteasome inhibitors. Here, we review recent studies that identified the regulatory pathways that mediate proteasomes sorting under various stress conditions, and the elimination of its dysfunctional subunits. Following inactivation of the 26S proteasome, UPS-mediated degradation of its own misassembled subunits is the favored disposal pathway. However, the cytosolic cell-compartment-specific aggregase, Hsp42 mediates an alternative pathway, the accumulation of these subunits in cytoprotective compartments, where they become extensively modified with ubiquitin, and are directed by ubiquitin receptors for autophagic clearance (proteaphagy). We also discuss the sorting mechanisms that the cell uses under nitrogen stress, and to distinguish between dysfunctional proteasome aggregates and proteasome storage granules (PSGs), reversible assemblies of membrane-free cytoplasmic condensates that form in yeast upon carbon starvation and help protect proteasomes from autophagic degradation. Regulated proteasome subunit homeostasis is thus controlled through cellular probing of the level of proteasome assembly, and the interplay between UPS-mediated degradation or sorting of misfolded proteins into distinct cellular compartments.

The Proteasome and Its Network: Engineering for Adaptability

The proteasome, the most complex protease known, degrades proteins that have been conjugated to ubiquitin. It faces the unique challenge of acting enzymatically on hundreds and perhaps thousands of structurally diverse substrates, mechanically unfolding them from their native state and translocating them vectorially from one specialized compartment of the enzyme to another. Moreover, substrates are modified by ubiquitin in myriad configurations of chains. The many unusual design features of the proteasome may have evolved in part to endow this enzyme with a robust ability to process substrates regardless of their identity. The proteasome plays a major role in preserving protein homeostasis in the cell, which requires adaptation to a wide variety of stress conditions. Modulation of proteasome function is achieved through a large network of proteins that interact with it dynamically, modify it enzymatically, or fine-tune its levels. The resulting adaptability of the proteasome, which is unique among proteases, enables cells to control the output of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway on a global scale.

Regulation of proteasome assembly and activity in health and disease

The proteasome degrades most cellular proteins in a controlled and tightly regulated manner and thereby controls many processes, including cell cycle, transcription, signalling, trafficking and protein quality control. Proteasomal degradation is vital in all cells and organisms, and dysfunction or failure of proteasomal degradation is associated with diverse human diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. Target selection is an important and well-established way to control protein degradation. In addition, mounting evidence indicates that cells adjust proteasome-mediated degradation to their needs by regulating proteasome abundance through the coordinated expression of proteasome subunits and assembly chaperones. Central to the regulation of proteasome assembly is TOR complex 1 (TORC1), which is the master regulator of cell growth and stress. This Review discusses how proteasome assembly and the regulation of proteasomal degradation are integrated with cellular physiology, including the interplay between the proteasome and autophagy pathways. Understanding these mechanisms has potential implications for disease therapy, as the misregulation of proteasome function contributes to human diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.

PI31 Is an Adaptor Protein for Proteasome Transport in Axons and Required for Synaptic Development

Protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is critical for neuronal function. Neurons utilize microtubule-dependent molecular motors to allocate proteasomes to synapses, but how proteasomes are coupled to motors and how this is regulated to meet changing demand for protein breakdown remain largely unknown. We show that the conserved proteasome-binding protein PI31 serves as an adaptor to couple proteasomes with dynein light chain proteins (DYNLL1/2). The inactivation of PI31 inhibited proteasome motility in axons and disrupted synaptic proteostasis, structure, and function. Moreover, phosphorylation of PI31 by p38 MAPK enhanced binding to DYNLL1/2 and promoted the directional movement of proteasomes in axons, suggesting a mechanism to regulate loading of proteasomes onto motors. Inactivation of PI31 in mouse neurons attenuated proteasome movement in axons, indicating this process is conserved. Because mutations affecting PI31 activity are associated with human neurodegenerative diseases, impairment of PI31-mediated axonal transport of proteasomes may contribute to these disorders.

Cellular Responses to Proteasome Inhibition: Molecular Mechanisms and Beyond

Proteasome inhibitors have been actively tested as potential anticancer drugs and in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, cells adapt to survive in the presence of proteasome inhibitors activating a variety of cell responses that explain why these therapies have not fulfilled their expected results. In addition, all proteasome inhibitors tested and approved by the FDA have caused a variety of side effects in humans. Here, we describe the different types of proteasome complexes found within cells and the variety of regulators proteins that can modulate their activities, including those that are upregulated in the context of inflammatory processes. We also summarize the adaptive cellular responses activated during proteasome inhibition with special emphasis on the activation of the Autophagic-Lysosomal Pathway (ALP), proteaphagy, p62/SQSTM1 enriched-inclusion bodies, and proteasome biogenesis dependent on Nrf1 and Nrf2 transcription factors. Moreover, we discuss the role of IRE1 and PERK sensors in ALP activation during ER stress and the involvement of two deubiquitinases, Rpn11 and USP14, in these processes. Finally, we discuss the aspects that should be currently considered in the development of novel strategies that use proteasome activity as a therapeutic target for the treatment of human diseases.

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.

Dynamic Regulation of the 26S Proteasome: From Synthesis to Degradation

All eukaryotes rely on selective proteolysis to control the abundance of key regulatory proteins and maintain a healthy and properly functioning proteome. Most of this turnover is catalyzed by the 26S proteasome, an intricate, multi-subunit proteolytic machine. Proteasomes recognize and degrade proteins first marked with one or more chains of poly-ubiquitin, the addition of which is actuated by hundreds of ligases that individually identify appropriate substrates for ubiquitylation. Subsequent proteasomal digestion is essential and influences a myriad of cellular processes in species as diverse as plants, fungi and humans. Importantly, dysfunction of 26S proteasomes is associated with numerous human pathologies and profoundly impacts crop performance, thus making an understanding of proteasome dynamics critically relevant to almost all facets of human health and nutrition. Given this widespread significance, it is not surprising that sophisticated mechanisms have evolved to tightly regulate 26S proteasome assembly, abundance and activity in response to demand, organismal development and stress. These include controls on transcription and chaperone-mediated assembly, influences on proteasome localization and activity by an assortment of binding proteins and post-translational modifications, and ultimately the removal of excess or damaged particles via autophagy. Intriguingly, the autophagic clearance of damaged 26S proteasomes first involves their modification with ubiquitin, thus connecting ubiquitylation and autophagy as key regulatory events in proteasome quality control. This turnover is also influenced by two distinct biomolecular condensates that coalesce in the cytoplasm, one attracting damaged proteasomes for autophagy, and the other reversibly storing proteasomes during carbon starvation to protect them from autophagic clearance. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the dynamic regulation of 26S proteasomes at all stages of their life cycle, illustrating how protein degradation through this proteolytic machine is tightly controlled to ensure optimal growth, development and longevity.

Probing H2O2-mediated Structural Dynamics of the Human 26S Proteasome Using Quantitative Cross-linking Mass Spectrometry (QXL-MS)

Cytotoxic protein aggregation-induced impairment of cell function and homeostasis are hallmarks of age-related neurodegenerative pathologies. As proteasomal degradation represents the major clearance pathway for oxidatively damaged proteins, a detailed understanding of the molecular events underlying its stress response is critical for developing strategies to maintain cell viability and function. Although the 26S proteasome has been shown to disassemble during oxidative stress, its conformational dynamics remains unclear. To this end, we have developed a new quantitative cross-linking mass spectrometry (QXL-MS) workflow to explore the structural dynamics of proteasome complexes in response to oxidative stress. This strategy comprises SILAC-based metabolic labeling, HB tag-based affinity purification, a 2-step cross-linking reaction consisting of mild in vivo formaldehyde and on-bead DSSO cross-linking, and multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) to identify and quantify cross-links. This integrated workflow has been successfully applied to explore the molecular events underlying oxidative stress-dependent proteasomal regulation by comparative analyses of proteasome complex topologies from treated and untreated cells. Our results show that H₂O₂ treatment weakens the 19S-20S interaction within the 26S proteasome, along with reorganizations within the 19S and 20S subcomplexes. Altogether, this work sheds light on the mechanistic response of the 26S to acute oxidative stress, suggesting an intermediate proteasomal state(s) before H₂O₂-mediated dissociation of the 26S. The QXL-MS strategy presented here can be applied to study conformational changes of other protein complexes under different physiological conditions.

The conserved RNA recognition motif and C3H1 domain of the Not4 ubiquitin ligase regulate in vivo ligase function

The Ccr4-Not complex controls RNA polymerase II (Pol II) dependent gene expression and proteasome function. The Not4 ubiquitin ligase is a Ccr4-Not subunit that has both a RING domain and a conserved RNA recognition motif and C3H1 domain (referred to as the RRM-C domain) with unknown function. We demonstrate that while individual Not4 RING or RRM-C mutants fail to replicate the proteasomal defects found in Not4 deficient cells, mutation of both exhibits a Not4 loss of function phenotype. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the Not4 RRM-C affects a specific subset of Pol II-regulated genes, including those involved in transcription elongation, cyclin-dependent kinase regulated nutrient responses, and ribosomal biogenesis. The Not4 RING, RRM-C, or RING/RRM-C mutations cause a generalized increase in Pol II binding at a subset of these genes, yet their impact on gene expression does not always correlate with Pol II recruitment which suggests Not4 regulates their expression through additional mechanisms. Intriguingly, we find that while the Not4 RRM-C is dispensable for Ccr4-Not association with RNA Pol II, the Not4 RING domain is required for these interactions. Collectively, these data elucidate previously unknown roles for the conserved Not4 RRM-C and RING domains in regulating Ccr4-Not dependent functions in vivo.

Thermal proteome profiling of breast cancer cells reveals proteasomal activation by CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib

Palbociclib is a CDK4/6 inhibitor approved for metastatic estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. In addition to G1 cell cycle arrest, palbociclib treatment results in cell senescence, a phenotype that is not readily explained by CDK4/6 inhibition. In order to identify a molecular mechanism responsible for palbociclib-induced senescence, we performed thermal proteome profiling of MCF7 breast cancer cells. In addition to affecting known CDK4/6 targets, palbociclib induces a thermal stabilization of the 20S proteasome, despite not directly binding to it. We further show that palbociclib treatment increases proteasome activity independently of the ubiquitin pathway. This leads to cellular senescence, which can be counteracted by proteasome inhibitors. Palbociclib-induced proteasome activation and senescence is mediated by reduced proteasomal association of ECM29. Loss of ECM29 activates the proteasome, blocks cell proliferation, and induces a senescence-like phenotype. Finally, we find that ECM29 mRNA levels are predictive of relapse-free survival in breast cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy. In conclusion, thermal proteome profiling identifies the proteasome and ECM29 protein as mediators of palbociclib activity in breast cancer cells.

Proteasome storage granules protect proteasomes from autophagic degradation upon carbon starvation

26S proteasome abundance is tightly regulated at multiple levels, including the elimination of excess or inactive particles by autophagy. In yeast, this proteaphagy occurs upon nitrogen starvation but not carbon starvation, which instead stimulates the rapid sequestration of proteasomes into cytoplasmic puncta termed proteasome storage granules (PSGs). Here, we show that PSGs help protect proteasomes from autophagic degradation. Both the core protease and regulatory particle sub-complexes are sequestered separately into PSGs via pathways dependent on the accessory proteins Blm10 and Spg5, respectively. Modulating PSG formation, either by perturbing cellular energy status or pH, or by genetically eliminating factors required for granule assembly, not only influences the rate of proteasome degradation, but also impacts cell viability upon recovery from carbon starvation. PSG formation and concomitant protection against proteaphagy also occurs in Arabidopsis, suggesting that PSGs represent an evolutionarily conserved cache of proteasomes that can be rapidly re-mobilized based on energy availability.

Proteins perform many jobs within an organism, including providing structure and support, and protecting against infection. The levels of the many proteins in a cell need to be carefully controlled so that the correct amounts are present at the right place and time to perform these tasks. This control can be achieved by balancing the production of new proteins with the break down (or degradation) of proteins that are no longer required or become dysfunctional.

Most cells have two pathways for degrading proteins. One pathway breaks down individual proteins specifically marked for elimination; this causes them to be recognized by a structure called the proteasome, which chops proteins into smaller pieces. Larger protein assemblies – including the proteasome itself – are to big for the proteasome and thus need to be degraded by another pathway called autophagy. This process engulfs and delivers parts of a cell to a membrane-bound compartment called the vacuole, which ‘digests’ and recycles these larger constituents.

Proteasomes are degraded by autophagy when they are not working correctly and when nitrogen (a crucial nutrient) is in short supply. However, proteasomes are not degraded when cells lack carbon, even though this starvation is known to activate autophagy in the same way that an absence of nitrogen does. So how do proteasomes escape degradation when cells are starved for carbon?

Marshall and Vierstra now show that upon carbon starvation, proteasomes rapidly exit the cell nucleus and cluster together in the main part of the cell (termed the cytosol). These clusters are known as proteasome storage granules (PSGs). In fungi and plants, mutations or conditions inside the cell that make it difficult for PSGs to assemble cause proteasomes to instead be broken down in the vacuole when carbon availability is low. Clustering into PSGs therefore protects proteasomes from autophagy. This clustering appears advantageous to cells; yeast cells that could form PSGs were better able to start growing again when their nutrient supply improved.

Protein clustering (also known as aggregation) is an important strategy that cells use to survive stressful conditions. However, it can also be harmful when proteins aggregate inappropriately, such as occurs in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers may be able to use PSG assembly as a convenient model to study the causes and consequences of protein aggregation; this knowledge could ultimately be applied to improve human health and crop productivity.

Native Gel Approaches in Studying Proteasome Assembly and Chaperones

Proteasomes are complex molecular machines that consist of 66 subunits. The assembly of these complexes is highly coordinated in a process that requires at least ten proteasome-specific molecular chaperones. One of the challenges in studying assembly intermediates is their relatively low abundance as compared to the proteasome holoenzyme. Therefore, superior separating techniques are crucial for analyses of proteasomal complexes in general and studies in the assembly in particular. For this reason, native gel analyses have been abundantly used in studying proteasomes, as they provide a high resolution. Native gels are very versatile and can be used in various combinatorial approaches. In this chapter, we outline two approaches to prepare samples for native gels. The first is a yeast cryogrinding method and the second a core particle (CP)-base reconstitution approach. We describe the native gel electrophoresis, as well as various downstream analyses, including 2D native-SDS-PAGE. These techniques and approaches can all be used, often in parallel, to gain a variety of information about activity and composition of the complexes separated by native gel. The potential combined approaches are discussed in this review.

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.

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.

The Proteasome Acts as a Hub for Plant Immunity and Is Targeted by Pseudomonas Type III Effectors

Recent evidence suggests that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is involved in several aspects of plant immunity and that a range of plant pathogens subvert the ubiquitin-proteasome system to enhance their virulence. Here, we show that proteasome activity is strongly induced during basal defense in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Mutant lines of the proteasome subunits RPT2a and RPN12a support increased bacterial growth of virulent Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst) and Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola ES4326. Both proteasome subunits are required for pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity responses. Analysis of bacterial growth after a secondary infection of systemic leaves revealed that the establishment of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is impaired in proteasome mutants, suggesting that the proteasome also plays an important role in defense priming and SAR In addition, we show that Pst inhibits proteasome activity in a type III secretion-dependent manner. A screen for type III effector proteins from Pst for their ability to interfere with proteasome activity revealed HopM1, HopAO1, HopA1, and HopG1 as putative proteasome inhibitors. Biochemical characterization of HopM1 by mass spectrometry indicates that HopM1 interacts with several E3 ubiquitin ligases and proteasome subunits. This supports the hypothesis that HopM1 associates with the proteasome, leading to its inhibition. Thus, the proteasome is an essential component of pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and SAR, which is targeted by multiple bacterial effectors.

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.

The benefits of local depletion: The centrosome as a scaffold for ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation

The centrosome is the major microtubule-organizing center in animal cells but is dispensable for proper microtubule spindle formation in many biological contexts and is thus thought to fulfill additional functions. Recent observations suggest that the centrosome acts as a scaffold for proteasomal degradation in the cell to regulate a variety of biological processes including cell fate acquisition, cell cycle control, stress response, and cell morphogenesis. Here, we review the body of studies indicating a role for the centrosome in promoting proteasomal degradation of ubiquitin-proteasome substrates and explore the functional relevance of this system in different biological contexts. We discuss a potential role for the centrosome in coordinating local degradation of proteasomal substrates, allowing cells to achieve stringent spatiotemporal control over various signaling processes.

KIAA0368-deficiency affects disassembly of 26S proteasome under oxidative stress condition

Many cellular stresses cause damages of intracellular proteins, which are eventually degraded by the ubiquitin and proteasome system. The proteasome is a multicatalytic protease complex composed of 20S core particle and the proteasome activators that regulate the proteasome activity. Extracellular mutants 29 (Ecm29) is a 200 kDa protein encoded by KIAA0368 gene, associates with the proteasome, but its role is largely unknown. Here, we generated KIAA0368-deficient mice and investigated the function of Ecm29 in stress response. KIAA0368-deficient mice showed normal peptidase activity and proteasome formation at normal condition. Under stressed condition, 26S proteasome dissociates in wild-type cells, but not in KIAA0368(-/-) cells. This response was correlated with efficient degradation of damaged proteins and resistance to oxidative stress of KIAA0368(-/-) cells. Thus, Ecm29 is involved in the dissociation process of 26S proteasome, providing clue to analyse the mechanism of proteasomal degradation under various stress condition.

Starvation Induces Proteasome Autophagy with Different Pathways for Core and Regulatory Particles

The proteasome is responsible for the degradation of many cellular proteins. If and how this abundant and normally stable complex is degraded by cells is largely unknown. Here we show that in yeast, upon nitrogen starvation, proteasomes are targeted for vacuolar degradation through autophagy. Using GFP-tagged proteasome subunits, we observed that autophagy of a core particle (CP) subunit depends on the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp3, although a regulatory particle (RP) subunit does not. Furthermore, upon blocking of autophagy, RP remained largely nuclear, although CP largely localized to the cytosol as well as granular structures within the cytosol. In all, our data reveal a regulated process for the removal of proteasomes upon nitrogen starvation. This process involves CP and RP dissociation, nuclear export, and independent vacuolar targeting of CP and RP. Thus, in addition to the well characterized transcriptional up-regulation of genes encoding proteasome subunits, cells are also capable of down-regulating cellular levels of proteasomes through proteaphagy.

Gates, Channels, and Switches: Elements of the Proteasome Machine

The proteasome has emerged as an intricate machine that has dynamic mechanisms to regulate the timing of its activity, its selection of substrates, and its processivity. The 19-subunit regulatory particle (RP) recognizes ubiquitinated proteins, removes ubiquitin, and injects the target protein into the proteolytic chamber of the core particle (CP) via a narrow channel. Translocation into the CP requires substrate unfolding, which is achieved through mechanical force applied by a hexameric ATPase ring of the RP. Recent cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) studies have defined distinct conformational states of the RP, providing illustrative snapshots of what appear to be progressive steps of substrate engagement. Here, we bring together this new information with molecular analyses to describe the principles of proteasome activity and regulation.

MicroRNA expression signature of castration-resistant prostate cancer: the microRNA-221/222 cluster functions as a tumour suppressor and disease progression marker

Background:

Our present study of the microRNA (miRNA) expression signature in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) revealed that the clustered miRNAs microRNA-221 (miR-221) and microRNA-222 (miR-222) are significantly downregulated in cancer tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional roles of miR-221 and miR-222 in prostate cancer (PCa) cells.

Methods:

A CRPC miRNA signature was constructed by PCR-based array methods. Functional studies of differentially expressed miRNAs were analysed using PCa cells. The association between miRNA expression and overall survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. In silico database and genome-wide gene expression analyses were performed to identify molecular targets regulated by the miR-221/222 cluster.

Results:

miR-221 and miR-222 were significantly downregulated in PCa and CRPC specimens. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that low expression of miR-222 predicted a short duration of progression to CRPC. Restoration of miR-221 or miR-222 in cancer cells revealed that both miRNAs significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Ecm29 was directly regulated by the miR-221/222 cluster in PCa cells.

Conclusions:

Loss of the tumour-suppressive miR-221/222 cluster enhanced migration and invasion in PCa cells. Our data describing targets regulated by the tumour-suppressive miR-221/222 cluster provide insights into the mechanisms of PCa and CRPC progression.

Maturation of the proteasome core particle induces an affinity switch that controls regulatory particle association

Proteasome assembly is a complex process, requiring 66 subunits distributed over several subcomplexes to associate in a coordinated fashion. Ten proteasome-specific chaperones have been identified that assist in this process. For two of these, the Pba1-Pba2 dimer, it is well established that they only bind immature core particles (CP) in vivo. In contrast, the regulatory particle (RP) utilizes the same binding surface but only interacts with the mature CP in vivo. It is unclear how these binding events are regulated. Here, we show that Pba1-Pba2 binds tightly to immature CP, preventing RP binding. Changes in the CP that occur upon maturation significantly reduce its affinity for Pba1-Pba2, enabling the RP to displace the chaperone. Mathematical modeling indicates that this “affinity switch” mechanism has likely evolved to improve assembly efficiency by preventing the accumulation of stable, non-productive intermediates. Our work thus provides mechanistic insights into a crucial step in proteasome biogenesis.

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.