Specificity of the anaphase-promoting complex: a single-molecule study

Using Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to Understand the Ubiquitination Landscape

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a fluorescence technique that allows quantitative measurement of protein interactions, kinetics and dynamics. This review covers the use of FRET to study the structures and mechanisms of ubiquitination and related proteins. We survey FRET assays that have been developed where donor and acceptor fluorophores are placed on E1, E2 or E3 enzymes and ubiquitin (Ub) to monitor steady-state and real-time transfer of Ub through the ubiquitination cascade. Specialized FRET probes placed on Ub and Ub-like proteins have been developed to monitor Ub removal by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that result in a loss of a FRET signal upon cleavage of the FRET probes. FRET has also been used to understand conformational changes in large complexes such as multimeric E3 ligases and the proteasome, frequently using sophisticated single molecule methods. Overall, FRET is a powerful tool to help unravel the intricacies of the complex ubiquitination system.

Loss of UBE2S causes meiosis I arrest with normal spindle assembly checkpoint dynamics in mouse oocytes

The timely degradation of proteins that regulate the cell cycle is essential for oocyte maturation. Oocytes are equipped to degrade proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In meiosis, anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), an E3 ubiquitin-ligase, is responsible for the degradation of proteins. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 S (UBE2S), an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, delivers ubiquitin to APC/C. APC/C has been extensively studied, but the functions of UBE2S in oocyte maturation and mouse fertility are not clear. In this study, we used Ube2s knockout mice to explore the role of UBE2S in mouse oocytes. Ube2s-deleted oocytes were characterized by meiosis I arrest with normal spindle assembly and spindle assembly checkpoint dynamics. However, the absence of UBE2S affected the activity of APC/C. Cyclin B1 and securin are two substrates of APC/C, and their levels were consistently high, resulting in the failure of homologous chromosome separation. Unexpectedly, the oocytes arrested in meiosis I could be fertilized and the embryos could become implanted normally, but died before embryonic day 10.5. In conclusion, our findings reveal an indispensable regulatory role of UBE2S in mouse oocyte meiosis and female fertility.

Tripartite Split-GFP for High Throughput Screening of Small Molecules: A Powerful Strategy for Targeting Transient/Labile Interactors like E2-E3 Ubiquitination Enzymes

The search for inhibitors of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) is an expanding area, due to the crucial role of UPS enzymes in several diseases. The complexity of the UPS and the multiple protein-protein interactions (PPIs) involved, either between UPS proteins themselves or between UPS components and theirs targets, offer an incredibly wide field for the development of chemical compounds for specifically modulating or inhibiting metabolic pathways. However, numerous UPS PPIs are transient/labile, due the processivity of the system (Ubiquitin [Ub] chain elongation, Ub transfer, etc.). Among the different strategies that can be used either for deciphering UPS PPI or for identifying/characterizing small compounds inhibitors, the split-GFP approach offers several advantages notably for high throughput screening of drugs. Split-GFP is based on the principle of protein-fragment complementation assay (PCA). PCA allows addressing PPIs by coupling each protein of interest (POI) to fragments of a reporter protein whose reconstitution is linked to the interaction of the POI. Here, we review the evolution of the split-GFP approach from bipartite to tripartite Split-GFP and its recent applicability for screening chemical compounds targeting the UPS.

Monoubiquitination empowers ubiquitin chain elongation

Ubiquitination often generates lysine 48-linked polyubiquitin chains that signal proteolytic destruction of the protein target. A significant subset of ubiquitination proceeds by a priming/extending mechanism, in which a substrate is first monoubiquitinated with a priming E2-conjugating enzyme or a set of E3 ARIH/E2 enzymes specific for priming. This is then followed by ubiquitin (Ub) chain extension catalyzed by an E2 enzyme capable of elongation. This report provides further insights into the priming/extending mechanism. We employed reconstituted ubiquitination systems of substrates CK1α (casein kinase 1α) and β-catenin by Cullin-RING E3 Ub ligases (CRLs) CRL4CRBN and CRL1βTrCP, respectively, in the presence of priming E2 UbcH5c and elongating E2 Cdc34b (cell division cycle 34b). We have established a new "apyrase chase" strategy that uncouples priming from chain elongation, which allows accurate measurement of the decay rates of the ubiquitinated substrate with a defined chain length. Our work has revealed highly robust turnover of monoubiquitinated β-catenin that empowers efficient polyubiquitination. The results of competition experiments suggest that the interactions between the ubiquitinated β-catenin and CRL1βTrCP are highly dynamic. Moreover, ubiquitination of the Ub-modified β-catenin appeared more resistant to inhibition by competitors than the unmodified substrate, suggesting tighter binding with CRL1βTrCP. These findings support a role for conjugated Ub in enhancing interactions with E3.

Direct observation of autoubiquitination for an integral membrane ubiquitin ligase in ERAD

The endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD) pathway regulates protein quality control at the endoplasmic reticulum. ERAD of lumenal and membrane proteins requires a conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase, called Hrd1. We do not understand the molecular configurations of Hrd1 that enable autoubiquitination and the subsequent retrotranslocation of misfolded protein substrates from the ER to the cytosol. Here, we have established a generalizable, single-molecule platform that enables high-efficiency labeling, stoichiometry determination, and functional assays for any integral membrane protein. Using this approach, we directly count Hrd1 proteins reconstituted into individual proteoliposomes. We report that Hrd1 assembles in different oligomeric configurations with mostly monomers and dimers detected at limiting dilution. By correlating oligomeric states with ubiquitination in vitro, we conclude that Hrd1 monomers are inefficient in autoubiquitination while dimers efficiently assemble polyubiquitin chains. Therefore, our results reveal the minimal composition of a Hrd1 oligomer that is capable of autoubiquitination. Our methods are broadly applicable to studying other complex membrane protein functions using reconstituted bilayer systems.

Time-resolved cryo-EM (TR-EM) analysis of substrate polyubiquitination by the RING E3 anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)

Substrate polyubiquitination drives a myriad of cellular processes, including the cell cycle, apoptosis and immune responses. Polyubiquitination is highly dynamic, and obtaining mechanistic insight has thus far required artificially trapped structures to stabilize specific steps along the enzymatic process. So far, how any ubiquitin ligase builds a proteasomal degradation signal, which is canonically regarded as four or more ubiquitins, remains unclear. Here we present time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy studies of the 1.2 MDa E3 ubiquitin ligase, known as the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), and its E2 co-enzymes (UBE2C/UBCH10 and UBE2S) during substrate polyubiquitination. Using cryoDRGN (Deep Reconstructing Generative Networks), a neural network-based approach, we reconstruct the conformational changes undergone by the human APC/C during polyubiquitination, directly visualize an active E3-E2 pair modifying its substrate, and identify unexpected interactions between multiple ubiquitins with parts of the APC/C machinery, including its coactivator CDH1. Together, we demonstrate how modification of substrates with nascent ubiquitin chains helps to potentiate processive substrate polyubiquitination, allowing us to model how a ubiquitin ligase builds a proteasomal degradation signal.

Trends in Single-Molecule Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Imaging and Their Biological Applications with Lab-on-a-Chip Technology

Single-molecule imaging technologies, especially those based on fluorescence, have been developed to probe both the equilibrium and dynamic properties of biomolecules at the single-molecular and quantitative levels. In this review, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art advancements in single-molecule fluorescence imaging techniques. We systematically explore the advanced implementations of in vitro single-molecule imaging techniques using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, which is widely accessible. This includes discussions on sample preparation, passivation techniques, data collection and analysis, and biological applications. Furthermore, we delve into the compatibility of microfluidic technology for single-molecule fluorescence imaging, highlighting its potential benefits and challenges. Finally, we summarize the current challenges and prospects of fluorescence-based single-molecule imaging techniques, paving the way for further advancements in this rapidly evolving field.

Visualizing the dynamics of DNA replication and repair at the single-molecule level

During cell division, the genome of each eukaryotic cell is copied by thousands of replisomes-large protein complexes consisting of several dozen proteins. Recent studies suggest that the eukaryotic replisome is much more dynamic than previously thought. To directly visualize replisome dynamics in a physiological context, we recently developed a single-molecule approach for imaging replication proteins in Xenopus egg extracts. These extracts contain all the soluble nuclear proteins and faithfully recapitulate DNA replication and repair in vitro, serving as a powerful platform for studying the mechanisms of genome maintenance. Here we present detailed protocols for conducting single-molecule experiments in nuclear egg extracts and preparing key reagents. This workflow can be easily adapted to visualize the dynamics and function of other proteins implicated in DNA replication and repair.

Degradation of amyloid beta species by multi-copper oxidases

Reduction of the production of amyloid beta (Aβ) species has been intensively investigated as potential therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the degradation of Aβ species, another potential beneficial approach, has been far less explored. In this study, we discovered that ceruloplasmin (CP), an important multi-copper oxidase (MCO) in human blood, could degrade Aβ peptides. We also found that the presence of Vitamin C could enhance the degrading effect in a concentration-dependent manner. We then validated the CP-Aβ interaction using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, fluorescence photometer, and fluorescence polarization measurement. Based on the above discovery, we hypothesized that other MCOs had similar Aβ-degrading functions. Indeed, we found that other MCOs could induce Aβ degradation as well. Remarkably, we revealed that ascorbate oxidase (AO) had the strongest degrading effect among the tested MCOs. Using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) neuron cells, we observed that AO could rescue neuron toxicity which induced by Aβ oligomers. In addition, our electrophysiological analysis with brain slices suggested that AO could prevent an Ab-induced deficit in synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. To the best of our knowledge, our report is the first to demonstrate that MCOs have a degrading function for peptides/proteins. Further investigations are warranted to explore the possible benefits of MCOs for future AD treatment.

HUWE1 Amplifies Ubiquitin Modifications to Broadly Stimulate Clearance of Proteins and Aggregates

Selective breakdown of proteins and aggregates is crucial for maintaining normal cellular activities and is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases. How the cell recognizes and tags these targets in different structural states for degradation by the proteasome and autophagy pathways has not been well understood. Here, we discovered that a HECT-family ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 is broadly required for the efficient degradation of soluble factors and for the clearance of protein aggregates/condensates. Underlying this capacity of HUWE1 is a novel Ubiquitin-Directed ubiquitin Ligase (UDL) activity which recognizes both soluble substrates and aggregates that carry a high density of ubiquitin chains and rapidly expand the ubiquitin modifications on these targets. Ubiquitin signal amplification by HUWE1 recruits the ubiquitin-dependent segregase p97/VCP to process these targets for subsequent degradation or clearance. HUWE1 controls the cytotoxicity of protein aggregates, mediates Targeted Protein Degradation and regulates cell-cycle transitions with its UDL activity.

E3 ligase autoinhibition by C-degron mimicry maintains C-degron substrate fidelity

E3 ligase recruitment of proteins containing terminal destabilizing motifs (degrons) is emerging as a major form of regulation. How those E3s discriminate bona fide substrates from other proteins with terminal degron-like sequences remains unclear. Here, we report that human KLHDC2, a CRL2 substrate receptor targeting C-terminal Gly-Gly degrons, is regulated through interconversion between two assemblies. In the self-inactivated homotetramer, KLHDC2's C-terminal Gly-Ser motif mimics a degron and engages the substrate-binding domain of another protomer. True substrates capture the monomeric CRL2KLHDC2, driving E3 activation by neddylation and subsequent substrate ubiquitylation. Non-substrates such as NEDD8 bind KLHDC2 with high affinity, but its slow on rate prevents productive association with CRL2KLHDC2. Without substrate, neddylated CRL2KLHDC2 assemblies are deactivated via distinct mechanisms: the monomer by deneddylation and the tetramer by auto-ubiquitylation. Thus, substrate specificity is amplified by KLHDC2 self-assembly acting like a molecular timer, where only bona fide substrates may bind before E3 ligase inactivation.

Revisiting degron motifs in human AURKA required for its targeting by APC/CFZR1

Mitotic kinase Aurora A (AURKA) diverges from other kinases in its multiple active conformations that may explain its interphase roles and the limited efficacy of drugs targeting the kinase pocket. Regulation of AURKA activity by the cell is critically dependent on destruction mediated by the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C^FZR1) during mitotic exit and G1 phase and requires an atypical N-terminal degron in AURKA called the "A-box" in addition to a reported canonical D-box degron in the C-terminus. Here, we find that the reported C-terminal D-box of AURKA does not act as a degron and instead mediates essential structural features of the protein. In living cells, the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region of AURKA containing the A-box is sufficient to confer FZR1-dependent mitotic degradation. Both in silico and in cellulo assays predict the QRVL short linear interacting motif of the A-box to be a phospho-regulated D-box. We propose that degradation of full-length AURKA also depends on an intact C-terminal domain because of critical conformational parameters permissive for both activity and mitotic degradation of AURKA.

Counting Degrons: Lessons From Multivalent Substrates for Targeted Protein Degradation

E3s comprise a structurally diverse group of at least 800 members, most of which target multiple substrates through specific and regulated protein-protein interactions. These interactions typically rely on short linear motifs (SLiMs), called "degrons", in an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of the substrate, with variable rules of engagement governing different E3-docking events. These rules of engagement are of importance to the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD), where substrate ubiquitination and destruction require tools to effectively harness ubiquitin ligases (E3s). Substrates are often found to contain multiple degrons, or multiple copies of a degron, contributing to the affinity and selectivity of the substrate for its E3. One important paradigm for E3-substrate docking is presented by the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), a multi-subunit E3 ligase that targets hundreds of proteins for destruction during mitotic exit. APC/C substrate targeting takes place in an ordered manner thought to depend on tightly regulated interactions of substrates, with docking sites provided by the substoichiometric APC/C substrate adaptors and coactivators, Cdc20 or Cdh1/FZR1. Both structural and functional studies of individual APC/C substrates indicate that productive ubiquitination usually requires more than one degron, and that degrons are of different types docking to distinct sites on the coactivators. However, the dynamic nature of APC/C substrate recruitment, and the influence of multiple degrons, remains poorly understood. Here we review the significance of multiple degrons in a number of E3-substrate interactions that have been studied in detail, illustrating distinct kinetic effects of multivalency and allovalency, before addressing the role of multiple degrons in APC/C substrates, key to understanding ordered substrate destruction by APC/C. Lastly, we consider how lessons learnt from these studies can be applied in the design of TPD tools.

Single-molecule analysis of specificity and multivalency in binding of short linear substrate motifs to the APC/C

Robust regulatory signals in the cell often depend on interactions between short linear motifs (SLiMs) and globular proteins. Many of these interactions are poorly characterized because the binding proteins cannot be produced in the amounts needed for traditional methods. To address this problem, we developed a single-molecule off-rate (SMOR) assay based on microscopy of fluorescent ligand binding to immobilized protein partners. We used it to characterize substrate binding to the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), a ubiquitin ligase that triggers chromosome segregation. We find that SLiMs in APC/C substrates (the D box and KEN box) display distinct affinities and specificities for the substrate-binding subunits of the APC/C, and we show that multiple SLiMs in a substrate generate a high-affinity multivalent interaction. The remarkably adaptable substrate-binding mechanisms of the APC/C have the potential to govern the order of substrate destruction in mitosis.

Bayesian machine learning analysis of single-molecule fluorescence colocalization images

Multi-wavelength single-molecule fluorescence colocalization (CoSMoS) methods allow elucidation of complex biochemical reaction mechanisms. However, analysis of CoSMoS data is intrinsically challenging because of low image signal-to-noise ratios, non-specific surface binding of the fluorescent molecules, and analysis methods that require subjective inputs to achieve accurate results. Here, we use Bayesian probabilistic programming to implement Tapqir, an unsupervised machine learning method that incorporates a holistic, physics-based causal model of CoSMoS data. This method accounts for uncertainties in image analysis due to photon and camera noise, optical non-uniformities, non-specific binding, and spot detection. Rather than merely producing a binary 'spot/no spot' classification of unspecified reliability, Tapqir objectively assigns spot classification probabilities that allow accurate downstream analysis of molecular dynamics, thermodynamics, and kinetics. We both quantitatively validate Tapqir performance against simulated CoSMoS image data with known properties and also demonstrate that it implements fully objective, automated analysis of experiment-derived data sets with a wide range of signal, noise, and non-specific binding characteristics.

Intricate Regulatory Mechanisms of the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome and Its Role in Chromatin Regulation

The ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system is vital to nearly every biological process in eukaryotes. Specifically, the conjugation of Ub to target proteins by Ub ligases, such as the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), is paramount for cell cycle transitions as it leads to the irreversible destruction of cell cycle regulators by the proteasome. Through this activity, the RING Ub ligase APC/C governs mitosis, G1, and numerous aspects of neurobiology. Pioneering cryo-EM, biochemical reconstitution, and cell-based studies have illuminated many aspects of the conformational dynamics of this large, multi-subunit complex and the sophisticated regulation of APC/C function. More recent studies have revealed new mechanisms that selectively dictate APC/C activity and explore additional pathways that are controlled by APC/C-mediated ubiquitination, including an intimate relationship with chromatin regulation. These tasks go beyond the traditional cell cycle role historically ascribed to the APC/C. Here, we review these novel findings, examine the mechanistic implications of APC/C regulation, and discuss the role of the APC/C in previously unappreciated signaling pathways.

Who with whom: functional coordination of E2 enzymes by RING E3 ligases during poly-ubiquitylation

Protein modification with poly-ubiquitin chains is a crucial process involved in a myriad of cellular pathways. Chain synthesis requires two steps: substrate modification with ubiquitin (priming) followed by repetitive ubiquitin-to-ubiquitin attachment (elongation). RING-type E3 ligases catalyze both reactions in collaboration with specific priming and elongating E2 enzymes. We provide kinetic insight into poly-ubiquitylation during protein quality control by showing that priming is the rate-determining step in protein degradation as directed by the yeast ERAD RING E3 ligases, Hrd1 and Doa10. Doa10 cooperates with the dedicated priming E2, Ubc6, while both E3s use Ubc7 for elongation. Here, we provide direct evidence that Hrd1 uses Ubc7 also for priming. We found that Ubc6 has an unusually high basal activity that does not require strong stimulation from an E3. Doa10 exploits this property to pair with Ubc6 over Ubc7 during priming. Our work not only illuminates the mechanisms of specific E2/E3 interplay in ERAD, but also offers a basis to understand how RING E3s may have properties that are tailored to pair with their preferred E2s.

Do We Understand the Mechanisms Used by Biological Systems to Correct Their Errors?

Most cellular processes involved in biological information processing display a surprisingly low error rate despite the stochasticity of the underlying biochemical reactions and the presence of competing chemical species. Such high fidelity is the result of nonequilibrium kinetic proofreading mechanisms, i.e., the existence of dissipative pathways for correcting the reactions that went in the wrong direction. While proofreading was often studied from the perspective of error minimization, a number of recent studies have demonstrated that the underlying mechanisms need to consider the interplay of other characteristic properties such as speed, energy dissipation, and noise reduction. Here, we present current views and new insights on the mechanisms of error-correction phenomena and various trade-off scenarios in the optimization of the functionality of biological systems. Existing challenges and future directions are also discussed.

Single-molecule dynamics of Dishevelled at the plasma membrane and Wnt pathway activation

Canonical Wnt signaling is one of the most important and widely distributed pathways in metazoan development. Dishevelled is thought to serve as an essential bridge between the membrane receptors and downstream signaling components, which has the tendency to aggregate in vitro and to form large aggregates of dubious significance in vivo, when overexpressed. To obtain a molecular understanding of the role of Dvl in Wnt signaling, while circumventing these aggregation problems, we have expressed a fluorescent-tagged Dishevelled in cells at its physiological concentration and quantified the size distribution of Dishevelled before and after Wnt treatment. We found that limited oligomerization in response to the Wnt ligand is very dynamic and provides a key step in signal transduction.

Dvl (Dishevelled) is one of several essential nonenzymatic components of the Wnt signaling pathway. In most current models, Dvl forms complexes with Wnt ligand receptors, Fzd and LRP5/6 at the plasma membrane, which then recruits the destruction complex, eventually leading to inactivation of β-catenin degradation. Although this model is widespread, direct evidence for the individual steps is lacking. In this study, we tagged mEGFP to C terminus of dishevelled2 gene using CRISPR/Cas9-induced homologous recombination and observed its dynamics directly at the single-molecule level with total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. We focused on two questions: 1) What is the native size and what are the dynamic features of membrane-bound Dvl complexes during Wnt pathway activation? 2) What controls the behavior of these complexes? We found that membrane-bound Dvl2 is predominantly monomer in the absence of Wnt (observed mean size 1.1). Wnt3a stimulation leads to an increase in the total concentration of membrane-bound Dvl2 from 0.12/μm² to 0.54/μm². Wnt3a also leads to increased oligomerization which raises the weighted mean size of Dvl2 complexes to 1.5, with 56.1% of Dvl still as monomers. The driving force for Dvl2 oligomerization is the increased concentration of membrane Dvl2 caused by increased affinity of Dvl2 for Fzd, which is independent of LRP5/6. The oligomerized Dvl2 complexes have increased dwell time, 2 ∼ 3 min, compared to less than 1 s for monomeric Dvl2. These properties make Dvl a unique scaffold, dynamically changing its state of assembly and stability at the membrane in response to Wnt ligands.

Multi-Step Ubiquitin Decoding Mechanism for Proteasomal Degradation

The 26S proteasome is a 2.5-MDa protease complex responsible for the selective and ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitylated proteins in eukaryotic cells. Proteasome-mediated protein degradation accounts for ~70% of all cellular proteolysis under basal conditions, and thereby any dysfunction can lead to drastic changes in cell homeostasis. A major function of ubiquitylation is to target proteins for proteasomal degradation. Accompanied by deciphering the structural diversity of ubiquitin chains with eight linkages and chain lengths, the ubiquitin code for proteasomal degradation has been expanding beyond the best-characterized Lys48-linked ubiquitin chains. Whereas polyubiquitylated proteins can be directly recognized by the proteasome, in several cases, these proteins need to be extracted or segregated by the conserved ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA)-family ATPase p97/valosin-containing protein (VCP) complex and escorted to the proteasome by ubiquitin-like (UBL)–ubiquitin associated (UBA) proteins; these are called substrate-shuttling factors. Furthermore, proteasomes are highly mobile and are appropriately spatiotemporally regulated in response to different cellular environments and stresses. In this review, we highlight an emerging key link between p97, shuttling factors, and proteasome for efficient proteasomal degradation. We also present evidence that proteasome-containing nuclear foci form by liquid–liquid phase separation under acute hyperosmotic stress.

Ubiquitin transfer by a RING E3 ligase occurs from a closed E2~ubiquitin conformation

Based on extensive structural analysis it was proposed that RING E3 ligases prime the E2~ubiquitin conjugate (E2~Ub) for catalysis by locking it into a closed conformation, where ubiquitin is folded back onto the E2 exposing the restrained thioester bond to attack by substrate nucleophile. However the proposal that the RING dependent closed conformation of E2~Ub represents the active form that mediates ubiquitin transfer has yet to be experimentally tested. To test this hypothesis we use single molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) to measure the conformation of a FRET labelled E2~Ub conjugate, which distinguishes between closed and alternative conformations. We describe a real-time FRET assay with a thioester linked E2~Ub conjugate to monitor single ubiquitination events and demonstrate that ubiquitin is transferred to substrate from the closed conformation. These findings are likely to be relevant to all RING E3 catalysed reactions ligating ubiquitin and other ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) to substrates.

Ubiquitin chain-elongating enzyme UBE2S activates the RING E3 ligase APC/C for substrate priming

The interplay between E2 and E3 enzymes regulates the polyubiquitination of substrates in eukaryotes. Among the several RING-domain E3 ligases in humans, many utilize two distinct E2s for polyubiquitination. For example, the cell cycle regulatory E3, human Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), relies on UBE2C to prime substrates with ubiquitin (Ub) and UBE2S to extend polyubiquitin chains. However, the potential coordination between these steps in ubiquitin chain formation remains undefined. While numerous studies have unveiled how RING E3s stimulate individual E2s for Ub transfer, here we change perspective to describe a case where the chain-elongating E2 UBE2S feeds back and directly stimulates the E3 APC/C to promote substrate priming and subsequent multiubiquitination by UBE2C. Our work reveals an unexpected paradigm for the mechanisms of RING E3-dependent ubiquitination and for the diverse and complex interrelationship between components of the ubiquitination cascade.

Structural interconversions of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) regulate cell cycle transitions

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a large multi-subunit complex that functions as a RING domain E3 ubiquitin ligase to regulate transitions through the cell cycle, achieved by controlling the defined ubiquitin-dependent degradation of specific cell cycle regulators. APC/C activity and substrate selection are controlled at various levels to ensure that specific cell cycle events occur in the correct order and time. Structural and mechanistic studies over the past two decades have complemented functional studies to provide comprehensive insights that explain APC/C molecular mechanisms. This review discusses how modifications of the core APC/C are responsible for the APC/C's interconversion between different structural and functional states that govern its capacity to control transitions between specific cell cycle phases. A unifying theme is that these structural interconversions involve competition between short linear sequence motifs (SLIMs), shared between substrates, coactivators, inhibitors and E2s, for their common binding sites on the APC/C.

Comparative Colocalization Single-Molecule Spectroscopy (CoSMoS) with Multiple RNA Species

Colocalization single-molecule spectroscopy (CoSMoS) allows studying RNA-protein complexes in the full complexity of their cellular environment at single-molecule resolution. Conventionally, the interaction between a single RNA species and multiple proteins is monitored in real time. However, comparing interactions of the same proteins with different RNA species in the same cell extract promises unique insights into RNA biology. Here, we describe an approach to monitor multiple RNA species simultaneously to enable direct comparison. This approach represents a technological development to avoid conventional inter-experiment comparisons.

Allostery and Kinetic Proofreading

Kinetic proofreading is an error correction mechanism present in the processes of the central dogma and beyond and typically requires the free energy of nucleotide hydrolysis for its operation. Though the molecular players of many biological proofreading schemes are known, our understanding of how energy consumption is managed to promote fidelity remains incomplete. In our work, we introduce an alternative conceptual scheme called "the piston model of proofreading" in which enzyme activation through hydrolysis is replaced with allosteric activation achieved through mechanical work performed by a piston on regulatory ligands. Inspired by Feynman's ratchet and pawl mechanism, we consider a mechanical engine designed to drive the piston actions powered by a lowering weight, whose function is analogous to that of ATP synthase in cells. Thanks to its mechanical design, the piston model allows us to tune the "knobs" of the driving engine and probe the graded changes and trade-offs between speed, fidelity, and energy dissipation. It provides an intuitive explanation of the conditions necessary for optimal proofreading and reveals the unexpected capability of allosteric molecules to beat the Hopfield limit of fidelity by leveraging the diversity of states available to them. The framework that we have built for the piston model can also serve as a basis for additional studies of driven biochemical systems.

Protein engineering of a ubiquitin-variant inhibitor of APC/C identifies a cryptic K48 ubiquitin chain binding site

Ubiquitin (Ub)-mediated proteolysis is a fundamental mechanism used by eukaryotic cells to maintain homeostasis and protein quality, and to control timing in biological processes. Two essential aspects of Ub regulation are conjugation through E1-E2-E3 enzymatic cascades and recognition by Ub-binding domains. An emerging theme in the Ub field is that these 2 properties are often amalgamated in conjugation enzymes. In addition to covalent thioester linkage to Ub's C terminus for Ub transfer reactions, conjugation enzymes often bind noncovalently and weakly to Ub at "exosites." However, identification of such sites is typically empirical and particularly challenging in large molecular machines. Here, studying the 1.2-MDa E3 ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which controls cell division and many aspects of neurobiology, we discover a method for identifying unexpected Ub-binding sites. Using a panel of Ub variants (UbVs), we identify a protein-based inhibitor that blocks Ub ligation to APC/C substrates in vitro and ex vivo. Biochemistry, NMR, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structurally define the UbV interaction, explain its inhibitory activity through binding the surface on the APC2 subunit that recruits the E2 enzyme UBE2C, and ultimately reveal that this APC2 surface is also a Ub-binding exosite with preference for K48-linked chains. The results provide a tool for probing APC/C activity, have implications for the coordination of K48-linked Ub chain binding by APC/C with the multistep process of substrate polyubiquitylation, and demonstrate the power of UbV technology for identifying cryptic Ub-binding sites within large multiprotein complexes.

Enzymatic Logic of Ubiquitin Chain Assembly

Protein ubiquitination impacts virtually every biochemical pathway in eukaryotic cells. The fate of a ubiquitinated protein is largely dictated by the type of ubiquitin modification with which it is decorated, including a large variety of polymeric chains. As a result, there have been intense efforts over the last two decades to dissect the molecular details underlying the synthesis of ubiquitin chains by ubiquitin-conjugating (E2) enzymes and ubiquitin ligases (E3s). In this review, we highlight these advances. We discuss the evidence in support of the alternative models of transferring one ubiquitin at a time to a growing substrate-linked chain (sequential addition model) versus transferring a pre-assembled ubiquitin chain (en bloc model) to a substrate. Against this backdrop, we outline emerging principles of chain assembly: multisite interactions, distinct mechanisms of chain initiation and elongation, optimal positioning of ubiquitin molecules that are ultimately conjugated to each other, and substrate-assisted catalysis. Understanding the enzymatic logic of ubiquitin chain assembly has important biomedical implications, as the misregulation of many E2s and E3s and associated perturbations in ubiquitin chain formation contribute to human disease. The resurgent interest in bifunctional small molecules targeting pathogenic proteins to specific E3s for polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation provides an additional incentive to define the mechanisms responsible for efficient and specific chain synthesis and harness them for therapeutic benefit.

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.

Single-molecule methods for measuring ubiquitination and protein stability

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) contributes to changes in cell state and homeostatic maintenance in humans by modulating the stability of about a third of human proteins. For example, cell-cycle regulation requires a central ubiquitin ligase, the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which starts a ubiquitination cascade leading to the degradation of multiple targets. This targeted degradation is mediated by the 26S proteasome, a 2.5-MDa protein complex, which recognizes and degrades ubiquitinated proteins at rates partially controlled by the variations in ubiquitin chain topology. Substrate selectivity of ubiquitin ligases such as the APC/C and of the 26S proteasome from pools of near-identical targets reflects highly regulated kinetic mechanisms. Single-molecule techniques are powerful tools that allow distinction between differential substrate affinities and identification of reaction intermediates in complex mixtures. Here we describe fluorescence-based single-molecule imaging of in vitro ubiquitination reactions catalyzed by the APC/C and ubiquitin-dependent degradation reactions catalyzed by the 26S proteasome.

Posing the APC/C E3 Ubiquitin Ligase to Orchestrate Cell Division

The anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) E3 ligase controls mitosis and nonmitotic pathways through interactions with proteins that coordinate ubiquitylation. Since the discovery that the catalytic subunits of APC/C are conformationally dynamic cullin and RING proteins, many unexpected and intricate regulatory mechanisms have emerged. Here, we review structural knowledge of this regulation, focusing on: (i) coactivators, E2 ubiquitin (Ub)-conjugating enzymes, and inhibitors engage or influence multiple sites on APC/C including the cullin-RING catalytic core; and (ii) the outcomes of these interactions rely on mobility of coactivators and cullin-RING domains, which permits distinct conformations specifying different functions. Thus, APC/C is not simply an interaction hub, but is instead a dynamic, multifunctional molecular machine whose structure is remodeled by binding partners to achieve temporal ubiquitylation regulating cell division.

Real-time detection of N-end rule-mediated ubiquitination via fluorescently labeled substrate probes

The N-end rule pathway has emerged as a major system for regulating protein functions by controlling their turnover in medical, animal and plant sciences as well as agriculture. Although novel functions and enzymes of the pathway have been discovered, the ubiquitination mechanism and substrate specificity of N-end rule pathway E3 ubiquitin ligases have remained elusive. Taking the first discovered bona fide plant N-end rule E3 ligase PROTEOLYSIS1 (PRT1) as a model, we used a novel tool to molecularly characterize polyubiquitination live, in real time. We gained mechanistic insights into PRT1 substrate preference and activation by monitoring live ubiquitination using a fluorescent chemical probe coupled to artificial substrate reporters. Ubiquitination was measured by rapid in-gel fluorescence scanning as well as in real time by fluorescence polarization. The enzymatic activity, substrate specificity, mechanisms and reaction optimization of PRT1-mediated ubiquitination were investigated ad hoc instantaneously and with significantly reduced reagent consumption. We demonstrated that PRT1 is indeed an E3 ligase, which has been hypothesized for over two decades. These results demonstrate that PRT1 has the potential to be involved in polyubiquitination of various substrates and therefore pave the way to understanding recently discovered phenotypes of prt1 mutants.

Systems and synthetic biology approaches in understanding biological oscillators

Background

Self-sustained oscillations are a ubiquitous and vital phenomenon in living systems. From primitive single-cellular bacteria to the most sophisticated organisms, periodicities have been observed in a broad spectrum of biological processes such as neuron firing, heart beats, cell cycles, circadian rhythms, etc. Defects in these oscillators can cause diseases from insomnia to cancer. Elucidating their fundamental mechanisms is of great significance to diseases, and yet challenging, due to the complexity and diversity of these oscillators.

Results

Approaches in quantitative systems biology and synthetic biology have been most effective by simplifying the systems to contain only the most essential regulators. Here, we will review major progress that has been made in understanding biological oscillators using these approaches. The quantitative systems biology approach allows for identification of the essential components of an oscillator in an endogenous system. The synthetic biology approach makes use of the knowledge to design the simplest, de novo oscillators in both live cells and cell-free systems. These synthetic oscillators are tractable to further detailed analysis and manipulations.

Conclusion

With the recent development of biological and computational tools, both approaches have made significant achievements.

Visualizing the complex functions and mechanisms of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)

The anaphase promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) is a large multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase that orchestrates cell cycle progression by mediating the degradation of important cell cycle regulators. During the two decades since its discovery, much has been learnt concerning its role in recognizing and ubiquitinating specific proteins in a cell-cycle-dependent manner, the mechanisms governing substrate specificity, the catalytic process of assembling polyubiquitin chains on its target proteins, and its regulation by phosphorylation and the spindle assembly checkpoint. The past few years have witnessed significant progress in understanding the quantitative mechanisms underlying these varied APC/C functions. This review integrates the overall functions and properties of the APC/C with mechanistic insights gained from recent cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies of reconstituted human APC/C complexes.

Utilizing Biotinylated Proteins Expressed in Yeast to Visualize DNA-Protein Interactions at the Single-Molecule Level

Much of our knowledge in conventional biochemistry has derived from bulk assays. However, many stochastic processes and transient intermediates are hidden when averaged over the ensemble. The powerful technique of single-molecule fluorescence microscopy has made great contributions to the understanding of life processes that are inaccessible when using traditional approaches. In single-molecule studies, quantum dots (Qdots) have several unique advantages over other fluorescent probes, such as high brightness, extremely high photostability, and large Stokes shift, thus allowing long-time observation and improved signal-to-noise ratios. So far, however, there is no convenient way to label proteins purified from budding yeast with Qdots. Based on BirA-Avi and biotin-streptavidin systems, we have established a simple method to acquire a Qdot-labeled protein and visualize its interaction with DNA using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. For proof-of-concept, we chose replication protein A (RPA) and origin recognition complex (ORC) as the proteins of interest. Proteins were purified from budding yeast with high biotinylation efficiency and rapidly labeled with streptavidin-coated Qdots. Interactions between proteins and DNA were observed successfully at the single-molecule level.

Genetic code asymmetry supports diversity through experimentation with posttranslational modifications

Protein N-glycosylation has been identified in all three domains of life presumably conserved for its early role in glycoprotein folding. However, the N-glycans added to proteins in the secretory pathway of multicellular organisms are remodeling in the Golgi, increasing structural diversity exponentially and adding new layers of functionality in immunity, metabolism and other systems. The branching and elongation of N-glycan chains found on cell surface receptors generates a gradation of affinities for carbohydrate-binding proteins, the galectin, selectin and siglec families. These interactions adapt cellular responsiveness to environmental conditions, but their complexity presents a daunting challenge to drug design. To gain further insight, I review how N-glycans biosynthesis and biophysical properties provide a selective advantage in the form of tunable and ultrasensitive stimulus-response relationships. In addition, the N-glycosylation motif favors step-wise mutational experimentation with sites. Glycoproteins display accelerated evolution during vertebrate radiation, and the encoding asymmetry of NXS/T(X≠P) has left behind phylogenetic evidence suggesting that the genetic code may have been selected to optimize diversity in part through emerging posttranslational modifications.

Building a Regulatory Network with Short Linear Sequence Motifs: Lessons from the Degrons of the Anaphase-Promoting Complex

The anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) is a ubiquitin ligase that polyubiquitinates specific substrates at precise times in the cell cycle, thereby triggering the events of late mitosis in a strict order. The robust substrate specificity of the APC/C prevents the potentially deleterious degradation of non-APC/C substrates and also averts the cell-cycle errors and genomic instability that could result from mistimed degradation of APC/C targets. The APC/C recognizes short linear sequence motifs, or degrons, on its substrates. The specific and timely modification and degradation of APC/C substrates is likely to be modulated by variations in degron sequence and context. We discuss the extensive affinity, specificity, and selectivity determinants encoded in APC/C degrons, and we describe some of the extrinsic mechanisms that control APC/C-substrate recognition. As an archetype for protein motif-driven regulation of cell function, the APC/C-substrate interaction provides insights into the general properties of post-translational regulatory systems.

Molecular mechanisms and genomic maps of DNA excision repair in Escherichia coli and humans

Nucleotide excision repair is a major DNA repair mechanism in all cellular organisms. In this repair system, the DNA damage is removed by concerted dual incisions bracketing the damage and at a precise distance from the damage. Here, we review the basic mechanisms of excision repair in Escherichia coli and humans and the recent genome-wide mapping of DNA damage and repair in these organisms at single-nucleotide resolution.

Ubiquitin Chain Enrichment Middle-Down Mass Spectrometry (UbiChEM-MS) Reveals Cell-Cycle Dependent Formation of Lys11/Lys48 Branched Ubiquitin Chains

The dynamics of cellular signaling events are tightly regulated by a diverse set of ubiquitin chains. Recent work has suggested that branched ubiquitin chains composed of Lys11 and Lys48 isopeptide linkages play a critical role in regulating cell cycle progression. Yet, endogenous Lys11/Lys48 branched chains could not be detected. By combining a Lys11 linkage specific antibody with high-resolution middle-down mass spectrometry (an approach termed UbiChEM-MS) we sought to identify endogenous Lys11/Lys48 branched ubiquitin chains in cells. Using asynchronous cells, we find that Lys11-linked branched chains can only be detected upon cotreatment with a proteasome and nonselective deubiquitinase inhibitor. Releasing cells from mitotic arrest results in a marked accumulation of Lys11/Lys48 branched chains in which branch points represent ∼3-4% of the total ubiquitin population. This report highlights the utility of UbiChEM-MS in characterizing the architecture of Lys11 Ub chains under various cellular conditions and corroborates the formation of Lys11/Lys48 branched chains during mitosis.

Ubiquitin Ligases: Structure, Function, and Regulation

Ubiquitin E3 ligases control every aspect of eukaryotic biology by promoting protein ubiquitination and degradation. At the end of a three-enzyme cascade, ubiquitin ligases mediate the transfer of ubiquitin from an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme to specific substrate proteins. Early investigations of E3s of the RING (really interesting new gene) and HECT (homologous to the E6AP carboxyl terminus) types shed light on their enzymatic activities, general architectures, and substrate degron-binding modes. Recent studies have provided deeper mechanistic insights into their catalysis, activation, and regulation. In this review, we summarize the current progress in structure-function studies of ubiquitin ligases as well as exciting new discoveries of novel classes of E3s and diverse substrate recognition mechanisms. Our increased understanding of ubiquitin ligase function and regulation has provided the rationale for developing E3-targeting therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases.

Ubiquitin recognition by the proteasome

The 26S proteasome is a 2.5-MDa complex responsible for the selective, ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitylated proteins in eukaryotic cells. Substrates in hundreds cellular pathways are timely ubiquitylated and converged to the proteasome by direct recognition or by multiple shuttle factors. Engagement of substrate protein triggers conformational changes of the proteasome, which drive substrate unfolding, deubiquitylation and translocation of substrates to proteolytic sites. Recent studies have challenged the previous paradigm that Lys48-linked tetraubiquitin is a minimal degradation signal: in addition, monoubiquitylation or multiple short ubiquitylations can serve as the targeting signal for proteasomal degradation. In this review, I highlight recent advances in our understanding of the proteasome structure, the ubiquitin topology in proteasome targeting, and the cellular factors that regulate proteasomal degradation.

The APC/C E3 Ligase Complex Activator FZR1 Restricts BRAF Oncogenic Function

BRAF drives tumorigenesis by coordinating the activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK oncogenic signaling cascade. However, upstream pathways governing BRAF kinase activity and protein stability remain undefined. Here, we report that in primary cells with active APC^FZR1, APC^FZR1 earmarks BRAF for ubiquitination-mediated proteolysis, whereas in cancer cells with APC-free FZR1, FZR1 suppresses BRAF through disrupting BRAF dimerization. Moreover, we identified FZR1 as a direct target of ERK and CYCLIN D1/CDK4 kinases. Phosphorylation of FZR1 inhibits APC^FZR1, leading to elevation of a cohort of oncogenic APC^FZR1 substrates to facilitate melanomagenesis. Importantly, CDK4 and/or BRAF/MEK inhibitors restore APC^FZR1 E3 ligase activity, which might be critical for their clinical effects. Furthermore, FZR1 depletion cooperates with AKT hyperactivation to transform primary melanocytes, whereas genetic ablation of Fzr1 synergizes with Pten loss, leading to aberrant coactivation of BRAF/ERK and AKT signaling in mice. Our findings therefore reveal a reciprocal suppression mechanism between FZR1 and BRAF in controlling tumorigenesis.Significance: FZR1 inhibits BRAF oncogenic functions via both APC-dependent proteolysis and APC-independent disruption of BRAF dimers, whereas hyperactivated ERK and CDK4 reciprocally suppress APC^FZR1 E3 ligase activity. Aberrancies in this newly defined signaling network might account for BRAF hyperactivation in human cancers, suggesting that targeting CYCLIN D1/CDK4, alone or in combination with BRAF/MEK inhibition, can be an effective anti-melanoma therapy. Cancer Discov; 7(4); 424-41. ©2017 AACR.See related commentary by Zhang and Bollag, p. 356This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 339.

Dual RING E3 Architectures Regulate Multiubiquitination and Ubiquitin Chain Elongation by APC/C

Protein ubiquitination involves E1, E2, and E3 trienzyme cascades. E2 and RING E3 enzymes often collaborate to first prime a substrate with a single ubiquitin (UB) and then achieve different forms of polyubiquitination: multiubiquitination of several sites and elongation of linkage-specific UB chains. Here, cryo-EM and biochemistry show that the human E3 anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and its two partner E2s, UBE2C (aka UBCH10) and UBE2S, adopt specialized catalytic architectures for these two distinct forms of polyubiquitination. The APC/C RING constrains UBE2C proximal to a substrate and simultaneously binds a substrate-linked UB to drive processive multiubiquitination. Alternatively, during UB chain elongation, the RING does not bind UBE2S but rather lures an evolving substrate-linked UB to UBE2S positioned through a cullin interaction to generate a Lys11-linked chain. Our findings define mechanisms of APC/C regulation, and establish principles by which specialized E3-E2-substrate-UB architectures control different forms of polyubiquitination.

Noncovalent Ubiquitin Interactions Regulate the Catalytic Activity of Ubiquitin Writers

Covalent modification of substrate proteins with ubiquitin is the end result of an intricate network of protein-protein interactions. The inherent ability of the E1, E2, and E3 proteins of the ubiquitylation cascade (the ubiquitin writers) to interact with ubiquitin facilitates this process. Importantly, contact between ubiquitin and the E2/E3 writers is required for catalysis and the assembly of chains of a given linkage. However, ubiquitin is also an activator of ubiquitin-writing enzymes, with many recent studies highlighting the ability of ubiquitin to regulate activity and substrate modification. Here, we review the interactions between ubiquitin-writing enzymes and regulatory ubiquitin molecules that promote activity, and highlight the potential of these interactions to promote processive ubiquitin transfer.

Subunit-Specific Labeling of Ubiquitin Chains by Using Sortase: Insights into the Selectivity of Deubiquitinases

Information embedded in different ubiquitin chains is transduced by proteins with ubiquitin-binding domains (UBDs) and erased by a set of hydrolytic enzymes referred to as deubiquitinases (DUBs). Understanding the selectivity of UBDs and DUBs is necessary for decoding the functions of different ubiquitin chains. Critical to these efforts is the access to chemically defined ubiquitin chains bearing site-specific fluorescent labels. One approach toward constructing such molecules involves peptide ligation by sortase (SrtA), a bacterial transpeptidase responsible for covalently attaching cell surface proteins to the cell wall. Here, we demonstrate the utility of SrtA in modifying individual subunits of ubiquitin chains. Using ubiquitin derivatives in which an N-terminal glycine is unveiled after protease-mediated digestion, we synthesized ubiquitin dimers, trimers, and tetramers with different isopeptide linkages. SrtA was then used in combination with fluorescent depsipeptide substrates to effect the modification of each subunit in a chain. By constructing branched ubiquitin chains with individual subunits tagged with a fluorophore, we provide evidence that the ubiquitin-specific protease USP15 prefers ubiquitin trimers but has little preference for a particular isopeptide linkage. Our results emphasize the importance of subunit-specific labeling of ubiquitin chains when studying how DUBs process these chains.

Conserved Sequence Preferences Contribute to Substrate Recognition by the Proteasome

The proteasome has pronounced preferences for the amino acid sequence of its substrates at the site where it initiates degradation. Here, we report that modulating these sequences can tune the steady-state abundance of proteins over 2 orders of magnitude in cells. This is the same dynamic range as seen for inducing ubiquitination through a classic N-end rule degron. The stability and abundance of His3 constructs dictated by the initiation site affect survival of yeast cells and show that variation in proteasomal initiation can affect fitness. The proteasome's sequence preferences are linked directly to the affinity of the initiation sites to their receptor on the proteasome and are conserved between Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and human cells. These findings establish that the sequence composition of unstructured initiation sites influences protein abundance in vivo in an evolutionarily conserved manner and can affect phenotype and fitness.

Control of APC/C-dependent ubiquitin chain elongation by reversible phosphorylation

Most metazoan E3 ligases contain a signature RING domain that promotes the transfer of ubiquitin from the active site of E2 conjugating enzymes to lysine residues in substrates. Although these RING-E3s depend on E2 enzymes for catalysis, how they turn on their E2s at the right time and place remains poorly understood. Here we report a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism that ensures timely activation of the E2 Ube2S by its RING-E3, the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C); while phosphorylation of a specific serine residue in the APC/C coactivator Cdc20 prevents delivery of Ube2S to the APC/C, removal of this mark by PP2A(B56) allows Ube2S to bind the APC/C and catalyze ubiquitin chain elongation. PP2A(B56) also stabilizes kinetochore-microtubule attachments to shut off the spindle checkpoint, suggesting that cells regulate the E2-E3 interplay to coordinate ubiquitination with critical events during cell division.