Nuclear Transport of Yeast Proteasomes

Yeast 26S proteasome nuclear import is coupled to nucleus-specific degradation of the karyopherin adaptor protein Sts1

In eukaryotes, the ubiquitin-proteasome system is an essential pathway for protein degradation and cellular homeostasis. 26S proteasomes concentrate in the nucleus of budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to the essential import adaptor protein Sts1 and the karyopherin-α protein Srp1. Here, we show that Sts1 facilitates proteasome nuclear import by recruiting proteasomes to the karyopherin-α/β heterodimer. Following nuclear transport, the karyopherin proteins are likely separated from Sts1 through interaction with RanGTP in the nucleus. RanGTP-induced release of Sts1 from the karyopherin proteins initiates Sts1 proteasomal degradation in vitro. Sts1 undergoes karyopherin-mediated nuclear import in the absence of proteasome interaction, but Sts1 degradation in vivo is only observed when proteasomes successfully localize to the nucleus. Sts1 appears to function as a proteasome import factor during exponential growth only, as it is not found in proteasome storage granules (PSGs) during prolonged glucose starvation, nor does it appear to contribute to the rapid nuclear reimport of proteasomes following glucose refeeding and PSG dissipation. We propose that Sts1 acts as a single-turnover proteasome nuclear import factor by recruiting karyopherins for transport and undergoing subsequent RanGTP-initiated ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation in the nucleus.

PKR Protects the Major Catalytic Subunit of PKA Cpk1 from FgBlm10-Mediated Proteasome Degradation in Fusarium graminearum

For optimal proteolytic function, the proteasome core (CP or 20S) must associate with activators. The cAMP-PKA pathway is reported to affect the activity of the proteasome in humans. However, the relationship between the proteasome and PKA is not well characterized. Our results showed that the major catalytic subunit Cpk1 was degraded without the protection of Pkr. Eleven (out of 67) pkr suppressors had FgBlm10 C-terminal truncation, one suppressor had an amino acid change mutation in the PRE6 ortholog (FGRRES_07282), and one in the PRE5 ortholog (FGRRES_05222). These mutations rescued the defects in growth and conidial morphology, Cpk1 stability, and PKA activities in the pkr mutant. The interaction of FgBlm10 with FgPre5 and FgPre6 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation, and the essential elements for their interaction were characterized, including the FgBlm10 C-terminus, amino acid D82 of FgPre6 and K62 of FgPre5. Additional FgBlm10-interacting proteins were identified in the wild type and pkr mutant, suggesting that PKA regulates the preference of FgBlm10-mediated proteasome assembly. In addition, PKA indirectly affected the phosphorylation of FgBlm10, and its localization in the nucleus. The truncation of the FgBlm10 C terminus also enhanced nuclear import and bleomycin resistance, suggesting its role in proteasome assembly at DNA damage sites. Collectively, our data demonstrated that regulation between PKA and proteasome degradation is critical for the vegetative growth of F. graminearum.

Quality control mechanisms that protect nuclear envelope identity and function

The nuclear envelope (NE) is a specialization of the endoplasmic reticulum with distinct biochemistry that defines inner and outer membranes connected at a pore membrane that houses nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). Quality control mechanisms that maintain the physical integrity and biochemical identity of these membranes are critical to ensure that the NE acts as a selective barrier that also contributes to genome stability and metabolism. As the proteome of the NE is highly integrated, it is challenging to turn over by conventional ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy mechanisms. Further, removal of entire sections of the NE requires elaborate membrane remodeling that is poorly understood. Nonetheless, recent work has made inroads into discovering specializations of cellular degradative machineries tailored to meeting the unique challenges imposed by the NE. In addition, cells have evolved mechanisms to surveil and repair the NE barrier to protect against the deleterious effects of a breach in NE integrity, in the form of either a ruptured NE or a dysfunctional NPC. Here, we synthesize the most recent work exploring NE quality control mechanisms across eukaryotes.

The Proteasome Activator PA200/PSME4: An Emerging New Player in Health and Disease

Proteasomes comprise a family of proteasomal complexes essential for maintaining protein homeostasis. Accordingly, proteasomes represent promising therapeutic targets in multiple human diseases. Several proteasome inhibitors are approved for treating hematological cancers. However, their side effects impede their efficacy and broader therapeutic applications. Therefore, understanding the biology of the different proteasome complexes present in the cell is crucial for developing tailor-made inhibitors against specific proteasome complexes. Here, we will discuss the structure, biology, and function of the alternative Proteasome Activator 200 (PA200), also known as PSME4, and summarize the current evidence for its dysregulation in different human diseases. We hereby aim to stimulate research on this enigmatic proteasome regulator that has the potential to serve as a therapeutic target in cancer.

Proteasomal subunit depletions differentially affect germline integrity in C. elegans

The 26S proteasome is a multi-subunit protein complex that is canonically known for its ability to degrade proteins in cells and maintain protein homeostasis. Non-canonical or non-proteolytic roles of proteasomal subunits exist but remain less well studied. We provide characterization of germline-specific functions of different 19S proteasome regulatory particle (RP) subunits in C. elegans using RNAi specifically from the L4 stage and through generation of endogenously tagged 19S RP lid subunit strains. We show functions for the 19S RP in regulation of proliferation and maintenance of integrity of mitotic zone nuclei, in polymerization of the synaptonemal complex (SC) onto meiotic chromosomes and in the timing of SC subunit redistribution to the short arm of the bivalent, and in turnover of XND-1 proteins at late pachytene. Furthermore, we report that certain 19S RP subunits are required for proper germ line localization of WEE-1.3, a major meiotic kinase. Additionally, endogenous fluorescent labeling revealed that the two isoforms of the essential 19S RP proteasome subunit RPN-6.1 are expressed in a tissue-specific manner in the hermaphrodite. Also, we demonstrate that the 19S RP subunits RPN-6.1 and RPN-7 are crucial for the nuclear localization of the lid subunits RPN-8 and RPN-9 in oocytes, further supporting the ability to utilize the C. elegans germ line as a model to study proteasome assembly real-time. Collectively, our data support the premise that certain 19S RP proteasome subunits are playing tissue-specific roles, especially in the germ line. We propose C. elegans as a versatile multicellular model to study the diverse proteolytic and non-proteolytic roles that proteasome subunits play in vivo.

Intracellular localization of the proteasome in response to stress conditions

The ubiquitin–proteasome system fulfills an essential role in regulating protein homeostasis by spatially and temporally controlling proteolysis in an ATP- and ubiquitin-dependent manner. However, the localization of proteasomes is highly variable under diverse cellular conditions. In yeast, newly synthesized proteasomes are primarily localized to the nucleus during cell proliferation. Yeast proteasomes are transported into the nucleus through the nuclear pore either as immature subcomplexes or as mature enzymes via adapter proteins Sts1 and Blm10, while in mammalian cells, postmitotic uptake of proteasomes into the nucleus is mediated by AKIRIN2, an adapter protein essentially required for nuclear protein degradation. Stressful growth conditions and the reversible halt of proliferation, that is quiescence, are associated with a decline in ATP and the reorganization of proteasome localization. Cellular stress leads to proteasome accumulation in membraneless granules either in the nucleus or in the cytoplasm. In quiescence, yeast proteasomes are sequestered in an ubiquitin-dependent manner into motile and reversible proteasome storage granules in the cytoplasm. In cancer cells, upon amino acid deprivation, heat shock, osmotic stress, oxidative stress, or the inhibition of either proteasome activity or nuclear export, reversible proteasome foci containing polyubiquitinated substrates are formed by liquid–liquid phase separation in the nucleus. In this review, we summarize recent literature revealing new links between nuclear transport, ubiquitin signaling, and the intracellular organization of proteasomes during cellular stress conditions.

Localized Proteasomal Degradation: From the Nucleus to Cell Periphery

The proteasome is responsible for selective degradation of most cellular proteins. Abundantly present in the cell, proteasomes not only diffuse in the cytoplasm and the nucleus but also associate with the chromatin, cytoskeleton, various membranes and membraneless organelles/condensates. How and why the proteasome gets to these specific subcellular compartments remains poorly understood, although increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that intracellular localization may have profound impacts on the activity, substrate accessibility and stability/integrity of the proteasome. In this short review, I summarize recent advances on the functions, regulations and targeting mechanisms of proteasomes, especially those localized to the nuclear condensates and membrane structures of the cell, and I discuss the biological significance thereof in mediating compartmentalized protein degradation.

AKIRIN2 controls the nuclear import of proteasomes in vertebrates

Protein expression and turnover are controlled through a complex interplay of transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms to enable spatial and temporal regulation of cellular processes. To systematically elucidate such gene regulatory networks, we developed a CRISPR screening assay based on time-controlled Cas9 mutagenesis, intracellular immunostaining and fluorescence-activated cell sorting that enables the identification of regulatory factors independent of their effects on cellular fitness. We pioneered this approach by systematically probing the regulation of the transcription factor MYC, a master regulator of cell growth^1-3. Our screens uncover a highly conserved protein, AKIRIN2, that is essentially required for nuclear protein degradation. We found that AKIRIN2 forms homodimers that directly bind to fully assembled 20S proteasomes to mediate their nuclear import. During mitosis, proteasomes are excluded from condensing chromatin and re-imported into newly formed daughter nuclei in a highly dynamic, AKIRIN2-dependent process. Cells undergoing mitosis in the absence of AKIRIN2 become devoid of nuclear proteasomes, rapidly causing accumulation of MYC and other nuclear proteins. Collectively, our study reveals a dedicated pathway controlling the nuclear import of proteasomes in vertebrates and establishes a scalable approach to decipher regulators in essential cellular processes.

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

BACKGROUND

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

Formation of Non-Nucleoplasmic Proteasome Foci during the Late Stage of Hyperosmotic Stress

Cellular stress induces the formation of membraneless protein condensates in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. The nucleocytoplasmic transport of proteins mainly occurs through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), whose efficiency is affected by various stress conditions. Here, we report that hyperosmotic stress compartmentalizes nuclear 26S proteasomes into dense nuclear foci, independent of signaling cascades. Most of the proteasome foci were detected between the condensed chromatin mass and inner nuclear membrane. The proteasome-positive puncta were not colocalized with other types of nuclear bodies and were reversibly dispersed when cells were returned to the isotonic medium. The structural integrity of 26S proteasomes in the nucleus was slightly affected under the hyperosmotic condition. We also found that these insulator-body-like proteasome foci were possibly formed through disrupted nucleus-to-cytosol transport, which was mediated by the sequestration of NPC components into osmostress-responding stress granules. These data suggest that phase separation in both the nucleus and cytosol may be a major cell survival mechanism during hyperosmotic stress conditions.

Proteostatic regulation in neuronal compartments

Neurons continuously adapt to external cues and challenges, including stimulation, plasticity-inducing signals and aging. These adaptations are critical for neuronal physiology and extended survival. Proteostasis is the process by which cells adjust their protein content to achieve the specific protein repertoire necessary for cellular function. Due to their complex morphology and polarized nature, neurons possess unique proteostatic requirements. Proteostatic control in axons and dendrites must be implemented through regulation of protein synthesis and degradation in a decentralized fashion, but at the same time, it requires integration, at least in part, in the soma. Here, we discuss current understanding of neuronal proteostasis, as well as open questions and future directions requiring further exploration.

Evaluation of Oncogene NUP37 as a Potential Novel Biomarker in Breast Cancer

Purpose

There is an urgent need to identify oncogenes that may be beneficial to diagnose and develop target therapy for breast cancer.

Methods

Based on the GEO database, DECenter was used to screen the differentially overexpressed genes in breast cancer samples. Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes and Cytoscape were performed to construct the PPI network to predict the hub gene. Functional and pathway enrichment were performed based on GO analysis. GEO2R, Oncomine, human tissue microarray staining, and western blot were applied to confirm the expression of NUP37. The association between NUP37 expression and prognosis in patients with breast cancer were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier plotter online tool and OncoLnc. siRNAs were used to knock down NUP37 and evaluate proliferation, migration, and stemness in breast cancer cells.

Results

We found that 138 genes were differentially upregulated in breast cancer samples, mainly comprising components of the nucleus and involved in the cell cycle process. NUP37 was identified as a hub gene that is upregulated in breast cancer patients related to a significantly worse survival rate. Furthermore, we confirmed that the downregulation of NUP37 in breast cancer cells results in the inhibition of cell growth, migration, and stemness.

Conclusions

High expression of NUP37 in breast cancer patients is associated with a poorer prognosis and promotion of cell growth, migration, and stemness. The multiple bioinformatics and experimental analysis help provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of NUP37 as a potential marker for diagnosis and prognosis and as a novel therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Physics of the Nuclear Pore Complex: Theory, Modeling and Experiment

The hallmark of eukaryotic cells is the nucleus that contains the genome, enclosed by a physical barrier known as the nuclear envelope (NE). On the one hand, this compartmentalization endows the eukaryotic cells with high regulatory complexity and flexibility. On the other hand, it poses a tremendous logistic and energetic problem of transporting millions of molecules per second across the nuclear envelope, to facilitate their biological function in all compartments of the cell. Therefore, eukaryotes have evolved a molecular "nanomachine" known as the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). Embedded in the nuclear envelope, NPCs control and regulate all the bi-directional transport between the cell nucleus and the cytoplasm. NPCs combine high molecular specificity of transport with high throughput and speed, and are highly robust with respect to molecular noise and structural perturbations. Remarkably, the functional mechanisms of NPC transport are highly conserved among eukaryotes, from yeast to humans, despite significant differences in the molecular components among various species. The NPC is the largest macromolecular complex in the cell. Yet, despite its significant complexity, it has become clear that its principles of operation can be largely understood based on fundamental physical concepts, as have emerged from a combination of experimental methods of molecular cell biology, biophysics, nanoscience and theoretical and computational modeling. Indeed, many aspects of NPC function can be recapitulated in artificial mimics with a drastically reduced complexity compared to biological pores. We review the current physical understanding of the NPC architecture and function, with the focus on the critical analysis of experimental studies in cells and artificial NPC mimics through the lens of theoretical and computational models. We also discuss the connections between the emerging concepts of NPC operation and other areas of biophysics and bionanotechnology.

Adaptation of Proteasomes and Lysosomes to Cellular Environments

Protein degradation is important for proper cellular physiology as it removes malfunctioning proteins or can provide a source for energy. Proteasomes and lysosomes, through the regulatory particles or adaptor proteins, respectively, recognize proteins destined for degradation. These systems have developed mechanisms to allow adaptation to the everchanging environment of the cell. While the complex recognition of proteins to be degraded is somewhat understood, the mechanisms that help switch the proteasomal regulatory particles or lysosomal adaptor proteins to adjust to the changing landscape of degrons, during infections or inflammation, still need extensive exploration. Therefore, this review is focused on describing the protein degradation systems and the possible sensors that may trigger the rapid adaptation of the protein degradation machinery.

Cell cycle-dependent localization of the proteasome to chromatin

An integrative understanding of nuclear events including transcription in normal and cancer cells requires comprehensive and quantitative measurement of protein dynamics that underlie such events. However, the low abundance of most nuclear proteins hampers their detailed functional characterization. We have now comprehensively quantified the abundance of nuclear proteins with the use of proteomics approaches in both normal and transformed human diploid fibroblasts. We found that subunits of the 26S proteasome complex were markedly down-regulated in the nuclear fraction of the transformed cells compared with that of the wild-type cells. The intranuclear proteasome abundance appeared to be inversely related to the rate of cell cycle progression, with restraint of the cell cycle being associated with an increase in the amount of proteasome subunits in the nucleus, suggesting that the nuclear proteasome content is dependent on the cell cycle. Furthermore, chromatin enrichment for proteomics (ChEP) analysis revealed enrichment of the proteasome in the chromatin fraction of quiescent cells and its apparent dissociation from chromatin in transformed cells. Our results thus suggest that translocation of the nuclear proteasome to chromatin may play an important role in control of the cell cycle and oncogenesis through regulation of chromatin-associated transcription factors.

The Sts1 nuclear import adapter uses a non-canonical bipartite nuclear localization signal and is directly degraded by the proteasome

The proteasome is an essential regulator of protein homeostasis. In yeast and many mammalian cells, proteasomes strongly concentrate in the nucleus. Sts1 from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an essential protein linked to proteasome nuclear localization. Here, we show that Sts1 contains a non-canonical bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) important for both nuclear localization of Sts1 itself and the proteasome. Sts1 binds the karyopherin-α import receptor (Srp1) stoichiometrically, and this requires the NLS. The NLS is essential for viability, and over-expressed Sts1 with an inactive NLS interferes with 26S proteasome import. The Sts1-Srp1 complex binds preferentially to fully assembled 26S proteasomes in vitro Sts1 is itself a rapidly degraded 26S proteasome substrate; notably, this degradation is ubiquitin independent in cells and in vitro and is inhibited by Srp1 binding. Mutants of Sts1 are stabilized, suggesting that its degradation is tightly linked to its role in localizing proteasomes to the nucleus. We propose that Sts1 normally promotes nuclear import of fully assembled proteasomes and is directly degraded by proteasomes without prior ubiquitylation following karyopherin-α release in the nucleus.