title: ATP-dependent mechanisms for protein degradation in mammalian cells.
abstract: The biochemical basis for ATP-dependent protein degradation observed in intact cells has been studied in cell-free extracts of baby hamster kidney fibroblasts. ATP plays at least two distinct roles in proteolysis. First, ATP is required for the covalent conjugation of ubiquitin to protein substrates. This modification markedly enhances the rates of degradation of some, but not all, proteins. Second, ATP appears to stimulate the activity of a protease capable of degrading both ubiquitinated and non-ubiquitinated proteins. This protease has several biochemical and catalytic features that resemble those of the previously described high molecular weight protease, macropain. Furthermore, antibodies against highly purified human erythrocyte macropain inhibit both ubiquitin-dependent and ubiquitin-independent pathways of ATP-dependent proteolysis. Such results provide evidence for an important role for macropain in ATP-dependent proteolysis in mammalian cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: DeMartino
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Reckelhoff
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Croall
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002460:Cell Line; D002474:Cell-Free System; D006224:Cricetinae; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011506:Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex