Harald W. Platta

Endocytosis and signaling

Many cellular signaling processes are governed by endocytosis through the internalization of plasma membrane receptors. This receptor clearance defines the quality with which a cell can react to extracellular stimuli. However, growing evidence indicates that endocytosis also enables the formation of endosome-specific signal transduction complexes. Their activity is controlled by the balanced trafficking of receptors and signaling molecules through the endocytic compartments. These are commonly divided into early endosomes, recycling endosomes, and late endosomes. Recent progress has been made in the understanding of the biogenesis of these organelles, highlighting their dynamic interconversion, maturation and also the generation of heterogenous subdomains on their surface. These multifunctional compartments represent the physical basis for the assembly and turnover of signaling complexes, which in turn themselves can define specialized endosomal-signaling platforms.

Functional role of the AAA peroxins in dislocation of the cycling PTS1 receptor back to the cytosol

Peroxisomal import receptors bind their cargo proteins in the cytosol and target them to docking and translocation machinery at the peroxisomal membrane (reviewed in ref. 1). The receptors release the cargo proteins into the peroxisomal lumen and, according to the model of cycling receptors, they are supposed to shuttle back to the cytosol. This shuttling of the receptors has been assigned to peroxins including the AAA peroxins Pex1p and Pex6p, as well as the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Pex4p (reviewed in ref. 2). One possible target for Pex4p is the PTS1 receptor Pex5p, which has recently been shown to be ubiquitinated. Pex1p and Pex6p are both cytosolic and membrane-associated AAA ATPases of the peroxisomal protein import machinery, the exact function of which is still unknown. Here we demonstrate that the AAA peroxins mediate the ATP-dependent dislocation of the peroxisomal targeting signal-1 (PTS1) receptor from the peroxisomal membrane to the cytosol.

Ubiquitination of the peroxisomal import receptor Pex5p is required for its recycling.

Pex5p, which is the import receptor for peroxisomal matrix proteins harboring a type I signal sequence (PTS1), is mono- and polyubiquitinated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We identified Pex5p as a molecular target for Pex4p-dependent monoubiquitination and demonstrated that either poly- or monoubiquitination of the receptor is required for the ATP-dependent release of the protein from the peroxisomal membrane to the cytosol as part of the receptor cycle. Therefore, the energy requirement of the peroxisomal import pathway has to be extended by a second ATP-dependent step, namely receptor monoubiquitination.

Ubiquitination of the peroxisomal import receptor Pex5p

Proteins harbouring a peroxisomal targeting signal of type 1 (PTS1) are recognized by the import receptor Pex5p in the cytosol which directs them to a docking and translocation complex at the peroxisomal membrane. We demonstrate the ubiquitination of Pex5p in cells lacking components of the peroxisomal AAA (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) or Pex4p-Pex22p complexes of the peroxisomal protein import machinery and in cells affected in proteasomal degradation. In cells lacking components of the Pex4p-Pex22p complex, mono-ubiquitinated Pex5p represents the major modification, while in cells lacking components of the AAA complex polyubiquitinated forms are most prominent. Ubiquitination of Pex5p is shown to take place exclusively at the peroxisomal membrane after the docking step, and requires the presence of the RING-finger peroxin Pex10p. Mono- and poly-ubiquitination are demonstrated to depend on the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc4p, suggesting that the ubiquitinated forms of Pex5p are targeted for proteasomal degradation. Accumulation of ubiquitinated Pex5p in proteasomal mutants demonstrates that the ubiquitination of Pex5p also takes place in strains which are not affected in peroxisomal biogenesis, indicating that the ubiquitination of Pex5p represents a genuine stage in the Pex5p receptor cycle.

Pex2 and Pex12 Function as Protein-Ubiquitin Ligases in Peroxisomal Protein Import

ABSTRACT The PTS1-dependent peroxisomal matrix protein import is facilitated by the receptor protein Pex5 and can be divided into cargo recognition in the cytosol, membrane docking of the cargo-receptor complex, cargo release, and recycling of the receptor. The final step is controlled by the ubiquitination status of Pex5. While polyubiquitinated Pex5 is degraded by the proteasome, monoubiquitinated Pex5 is destined for a new round of the receptor cycle. Recently, the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes involved in Pex5 ubiquitination were identified as Ubc4 and Pex4 (Ubc10), whereas the identity of the corresponding protein-ubiquitin ligases remained unknown. Here we report on the identification of the protein-ubiquitin ligases that are responsible for the ubiquitination of the peroxisomal protein import receptor Pex5. It is demonstrated that each of the three RING peroxins Pex2, Pex10, and Pex12 exhibits ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase activity. Our results show that Pex2 mediates the Ubc4-dependent polyubiquitination whereas Pex12 facilitates the Pex4-dependent monoubiquitination of Pex5.

The peroxisomal protein import machinery

Peroxisomes are unique organelles whose physiological functions vary depending on the cellular environment or metabolic and developmental state of the organism. These changes in enzyme content are accomplished by the dynamically operating membrane and matrix protein import machineries of peroxisomes that rely on the concerted function of at least 20 peroxins. The import of folded matrix proteins is mediated by cycling receptors that shuttle between the cytosol and peroxisomal lumen. Receptor release back to the cytosol represents the ATP‐dependent step of peroxisomal matrix protein import, which consists of two energy‐consuming reactions: receptor ubiquitination and dislocation.

Nedd4-dependent lysine-11-linked polyubiquitination of the tumour suppressor Beclin 1.

Beclin 1, a subunit of the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex, is a tumour suppressor with a central role in endocytic trafficking, cytokinesis and the cross-regulation between autophagy and apoptosis. Interestingly, not only reduced expression but also overexpression of Beclin 1 is correlated with cancer development and metastasis. Thus it seems necessary for the cell to balance the protein levels of Beclin 1. In the present study we describe a regulatory link between Beclin 1 and the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 (neural-precursor-cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated 4). We establish Nedd4 as a novel binding partner of Beclin 1 and demonstrate that Nedd4 polyubiquitinates Beclin 1 with Lys11- and Lys63-linked chains. Importantly, Nedd4 expression controls the stability of Beclin 1, and depletion of the Beclin 1-interacting protein VPS34 causes Nedd4-mediated proteasomal degradation of Beclin 1 via Lys11-linked polyubiquitin chains. Beclin 1 is thus the first tumour suppressor reported to be controlled by Lys11-linked polyubiquitination.

Membrane Association of the Cycling Peroxisome Import Receptor Pex5p

Peroxisomal proteins carrying a peroxisome targeting signal type 1 (PTS1) are recognized in the cytosol by the cycling import receptor Pex5p. The receptor-cargo complex docks at the peroxisomal membrane where it associates with multimeric protein complexes, referred to as the docking and RING finger complexes. Here we have identified regions within the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pex5p sequence that interconnect the receptor-cargo complex with the docking complex. Site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved tryptophan residue within a reverse WXXXF motif abolished two-hybrid binding with the N-terminal half of Pex14p. In combination with an additional mutation introduced into the Pex13p-binding site, we generated a Pex5p mutant defective in a stable association not only with the docking complex but also with the RING finger peroxins at the membrane. Surprisingly, PTS1 proteins are still imported into peroxisomes in these mutant cells. Because these mutations had no significant effect on the membrane binding properties of Pex5p, we examined yeast and human Pex5p for intrinsic lipid binding activity. In vitro analyses demonstrated that both proteins have the potential to insert spontaneously into phospholipid membranes. Altogether, these data strongly suggest that a translocation-competent state of the PTS1 receptor enters the membrane via protein-lipid interactions before it tightly associates with other peroxins.

Ubp15p, a Ubiquitin Hydrolase Associated with the Peroxisomal Export Machinery

Peroxisomal matrix protein import is facilitated by cycling receptors shuttling between the cytosol and the peroxisomal membrane. One crucial step in this cycle is the ATP-dependent release of the receptors from the peroxisomal membrane. This step is facilitated by the peroxisomal AAA (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) proteins Pex1p and Pex6p with ubiquitination of the receptor being the main signal for its export. Here we report that the AAA complex contains dislocase as well as deubiquitinating activity. Ubp15p, a ubiquitin hydrolase, was identified as a novel constituent of the complex. Ubp15p partially localizes to peroxisomes and is capable of cleaving off ubiquitin moieties from the type I peroxisomal targeting sequence (PTS1) receptor Pex5p. Furthermore, Ubp15p-deficient cells are characterized by a stress-related PTS1 import defect. The results merge into a picture in which removal of ubiquitin from the PTS1 receptor Pex5p is a specific event and might represent a vital step in receptor recycling.

Ubiquitination and phosphorylation of Beclin 1 and its binding partners: Tuning class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and tumor suppression

The class III phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K‐III) complex and its phosphorylated lipid product phosphatidylinositol 3‐phosphate (PtdIns3P) control the three topologically related membrane‐involution processes autophagy, endocytosis, and cytokinesis. The activity of the catalytic unit of PI3K‐III complex, the Vacuolar sorting protein 34 (VPS34), depends on the membrane targeting unit Vacuolar sorting protein 15 (VPS15), and the tumor suppressor protein Beclin 1. It is established that the overall activity of VPS34 is positively regulated by Beclin 1, whose positive influence is further controlled through the association with a set of Beclin1 interacting components, which stimulate or inhibit VPS34. The interaction between Beclin 1 and Beclin 1‐associated components are controllable and is regulated by phosphorylation in a context‐dependent manner. Here, we focus on an emerging concept whereby the activity of the PI3K‐III complex is controlled by ubiquitination of Beclin 1 or Beclin 1‐associated molecules. In summary, at least three different ubiquitin ligases can affect the positive regulatory function of Beclin 1 towards VPS34, suggesting that ubiquitination is an important and physiologically relevant event in tuning the tumor suppressor function of Beclin 1.