Role of the alpha-amino group of protein in ubiquitin-mediated protein breakdown.
Previous studies suggest that the conjugation of ubiquitin to NH2 groups of proteins is required for protein breakdown. We now show that the selective modification of NH2-terminal alpha-NH2 groups of globin and lysozyme prevents their degradation by the ubiquitin proteolytic system from reticulocytes. The conjugation by ubiquitin of epsilon-NH2 groups of lysine residues, usually seen in multiples, was also inhibited in alpha-NH2-blocked proteins. Naturally occurring N alpha-acetylated proteins are not degraded by the ubiquitin system at a significant rate, while their nonacetylated counterparts from other species are good substrates. This suggests that one function of N alpha-acetylation of cellular proteins is to prevent their degradation by the ubiquitin system. alpha-NH2-blocked proteins can have their activity as substrates for degradation increased by incorporation of alpha-NH2 groups through the introduction of polyalanine side chains. Proteins in which most epsilon-NH2 groups are blocked but the alpha-NH2 group is free are degraded by the ubiquitin system, but at a reduced rate. It is therefore suggested that the exposure of a free NH2 terminus of proteins is required for degradation and probably initiates the formation of ubiquitin conjugates committed for degradation.
D000107:Acetylation; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism*
D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D008239:Lysine