Viduth K. Chaugule

Autoregulation of Parkin activity through its ubiquitin-like domain

Parkin is an E3‐ubiquitin ligase belonging to the RBR (RING–InBetweenRING–RING family), and is involved in the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinsons disease. Autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism, which is one of the most common familial forms of the disease, is directly linked to mutations in the parkin gene. However, the molecular mechanisms of Parkin dysfunction in the disease state remain to be established. We now demonstrate that the ubiquitin‐like domain of Parkin functions to inhibit its autoubiquitination. Moreover pathogenic Parkin mutations disrupt this autoinhibition, resulting in a constitutively active molecule. In addition, we show that the mechanism of autoregulation involves ubiquitin binding by a C‐terminal region of Parkin. Our observations provide important molecular insights into the underlying basis of Parkinsons disease, and in the regulation of RBR E3‐ligase activity.

Disruption of the autoinhibited state primes the E3 ligase parkin for activation and catalysis

The PARK2 gene is mutated in 50% of autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (ARJP) cases. It encodes parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase of the RBR family. Parkin exists in an autoinhibited state that is activated by phosphorylation of its N‐terminal ubiquitin‐like (Ubl) domain and binding of phosphoubiquitin. We describe the 1.8 Å crystal structure of human parkin in its fully inhibited state and identify the key interfaces to maintain parkin inhibition. We identify the phosphoubiquitin‐binding interface, provide a model for the phosphoubiquitin–parkin complex and show how phosphorylation of the Ubl domain primes parkin for optimal phosphoubiquitin binding. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the addition of phosphoubiquitin leads to displacement of the Ubl domain through loss of structure, unveiling a ubiquitin‐binding site used by the E2~Ub conjugate, thus leading to active parkin. We find the role of the Ubl domain is to prevent parkin activity in the absence of the phosphorylation signals, and propose a model for parkin inhibition, optimization for phosphoubiquitin recruitment, release of inhibition by the Ubl domain and engagement with an E2~Ub conjugate. Taken together, this model provides a mechanistic framework for activating parkin.

Ubc9 Sumoylation Controls SUMO Chain Formation and Meiotic Synapsis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Posttranslational modification with the small ubiquitin-related modifier SUMO depends on the sequential activities of E1, E2, and E3 enzymes. While regulation by E3 ligases and SUMO proteases is well understood, current knowledge of E2 regulation is very limited. Here, we describe modification of the budding yeast E2 enzyme Ubc9 by sumoylation (Ubc9(*)SUMO). Although less than 1% of Ubc9 is sumoylated at Lys153 at steady state, a sumoylation-deficient mutant showed significantly reduced meiotic SUMO conjugates and abrogates synaptonemal complex formation. Biochemical analysis revealed that Ubc9(*)SUMO is severely impaired in its classical activity but promoted SUMO chain assembly in the presence of Ubc9. Ubc9(*)SUMO cooperates with charged Ubc9 (Ubc9~SUMO) by noncovalent backside SUMO binding and by positioning the donor SUMO for optimal transfer. Thus, sumoylation of Ubc9 converts an active enzyme into a cofactor and reveals a mechanism for E2 regulation that orchestrates catalytic (Ubc9~SUMO) and noncatalytic (Ubc9(*)SUMO) functions of Ubc9.

A new vertebrate SUMO enzyme family reveals insights into SUMO-chain assembly

SUMO chains act as stress-induced degradation tags or repair factor–recruiting signals at DNA lesions. Although E1 activating, E2 conjugating and E3 ligating enzymes efficiently assemble SUMO chains, specific chain-elongation mechanisms are unknown. E4 elongases are specialized E3 ligases that extend a chain but are inefficient in the initial conjugation of the modifier. We identified ZNF451, a representative member of a new class of SUMO2 and SUMO3 (SUMO2/3)-specific enzymes that execute catalysis via a tandem SUMO-interaction motif (SIM) region. One SIM positions the donor SUMO while a second SIM binds SUMO on the back side of the E2 enzyme. This tandem-SIM region is sufficient to extend a back side–anchored SUMO chain (E4 elongase activity), whereas efficient chain initiation also requires a zinc-finger region to recruit the initial acceptor SUMO (E3 ligase activity). Finally, we describe four human proteins sharing E4 elongase activities and their function in stress-induced SUMO2/3 conjugation.

SUMO Rules: Regulatory Concepts and Their Implication in Neurologic Functions

AbstractPosttranslational modification of proteins by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a potent regulator of various cellular events. Hundreds of substrates have been identified, many of them involved in vital processes like transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, protein degradation, cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, chromatin organization, and nuclear transport. In recent years, protein sumoylation increasingly attracted attention, as it could be linked to heart failure, cancer, and neurodegeneration. However, underlying mechanisms involving how modification by SUMO contributes to disease development are still scarce thus necessitating further research. This review aims to critically discuss currently available concepts of the SUMO pathway, thereby highlighting regulation in the healthy versus diseased organism, focusing on neurologic aspects. Better understanding of differential regulation in health and disease may finally allow to uncover pathogenic mechanisms and contribute to the development of disease-specific therapies.

Small, N-terminal tags activate Parkin E3 ubiquitin ligase activity by disrupting its autoinhibited conformation.

Parkin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase, mutations in which cause Autosomal Recessive Parkinsons Disease. Many studies aimed at understanding Parkin function, regulation and dysfunction are performed using N-terminal epitope tags. We report here that the use of small tags such as FLAG, cMyc and HA, influence the physical stability and activity of Parkin in and out of cells, perturbing the autoinhibited native state of Parkin, resulting in an active-for-autoubiquitination species.

Specificity and disease in the ubiquitin system.

Post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins by ubiquitination is an essential cellular regulatory process. Such regulation drives the cell cycle and cell division, signalling and secretory pathways, DNA replication and repair processes and protein quality control and degradation pathways. A huge range of ubiquitin signals can be generated depending on the specificity and catalytic activity of the enzymes required for attachment of ubiquitin to a given target. As a consequence of its importance to eukaryotic life, dysfunction in the ubiquitin system leads to many disease states, including cancers and neurodegeneration. This review takes a retrospective look at our progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern the specificity of ubiquitin conjugation.

The Fanconi Anemia DNA Repair Pathway Is Regulated by an Interaction between Ubiquitin and the E2-like Fold Domain of FANCL

Background: The E3 ligase FANCL monoubiquitinates FANCD2 in a critical step in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks. Results: FANCL binds ubiquitin non-covalently via its N-terminal E2-like fold. Conclusion: Monoubiquitination of FANCD2 is regulated via a non-covalent interaction between FANCL and ubiquitin. Significance: This interaction represents an additional layer of regulation of the Fanconi Anemia pathway, and a targetable interface. The Fanconi Anemia (FA) DNA repair pathway is essential for the recognition and repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICL). Inefficient repair of these ICL can lead to leukemia and bone marrow failure. A critical step in the pathway is the monoubiquitination of FANCD2 by the RING E3 ligase FANCL. FANCL comprises 3 domains, a RING domain that interacts with E2 conjugating enzymes, a central domain required for substrate interaction, and an N-terminal E2-like fold (ELF) domain. The ELF domain is found in all FANCL homologues, yet the function of the domain remains unknown. We report here that the ELF domain of FANCL is required to mediate a non-covalent interaction between FANCL and ubiquitin. The interaction involves the canonical Ile44 patch on ubiquitin, and a functionally conserved patch on FANCL. We show that the interaction is not necessary for the recognition of the core complex, it does not enhance the interaction between FANCL and Ube2T, and is not required for FANCD2 monoubiquitination in vitro. However, we demonstrate that the ELF domain is required to promote efficient DNA damage-induced FANCD2 monoubiquitination in vertebrate cells, suggesting an important function of ubiquitin binding by FANCL in vivo.

Mechanism and disease association of E2-conjugating enzymes: lessons from UBE2T and UBE2L3

Ubiquitin signalling is a fundamental eukaryotic regulatory system, controlling diverse cellular functions. A cascade of E1, E2, and E3 enzymes is required for assembly of distinct signals, whereas an array of deubiquitinases and ubiquitin-binding modules edit, remove, and translate the signals. In the centre of this cascade sits the E2-conjugating enzyme, relaying activated ubiquitin from the E1 activating enzyme to the substrate, usually via an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Many disease states are associated with dysfunction of ubiquitin signalling, with the E3s being a particular focus. However, recent evidence demonstrates that mutations or impairment of the E2s can lead to severe disease states, including chromosome instability syndromes, cancer predisposition, and immunological disorders. Given their relevance to diseases, E2s may represent an important class of therapeutic targets. In the present study, we review the current understanding of the mechanism of this important family of enzymes, and the role of selected E2s in disease.

The SUMO2/3 specific E3 ligase ZNF451-1 regulates PML stability

The small ubiquitin related modifier SUMO regulates protein functions to maintain cell homeostasis. SUMO attachment is executed by the hierarchical action of E1, E2 and E3 enzymes of which E3 ligases ensure substrate specificity. We recently identified the ZNF451 family as novel class of SUMO2/3 specific E3 ligases and characterized their function in SUMO chain formation. The founding member, ZNF451isoform1 (ZNF451-1) partially resides in PML bodies, nuclear structures organized by the promyelocytic leukemia gene product PML. As PML and diverse PML components are well known SUMO substrates the question arises whether ZNF451-1 is involved in their sumoylation. Here, we show that ZNF451-1 indeed functions as SUMO2/3 specific E3 ligase for PML and selected PML components in vitro. Mutational analysis indicates that substrate sumoylation employs an identical biochemical mechanism as we described for SUMO chain formation. In vivo, ZNF451-1 RNAi depletion leads to PML stabilization and an increased number of PML bodies. By contrast, PML degradation upon arsenic trioxide treatment is not ZNF451-1 dependent. Our data suggest a regulatory role of ZNF451-1 in fine-tuning physiological PML levels in a RNF4 cooperative manner in the mouse neuroblastoma N2a cell-line.