A UbcH5/ubiquitin noncovalent complex is required for processive BRCA1-directed ubiquitination.
Protein ubiquitination is a powerful regulatory modification that influences nearly every aspect of eukaryotic cell biology. The general pathway for ubiquitin (Ub) modification requires the sequential activities of a Ub-activating enzyme (E1), a Ub transfer enzyme (E2), and a Ub ligase (E3). The E2 must recognize both the E1 and a cognate E3 in addition to carrying activated Ub. These central functions are performed by a topologically conserved alpha/beta-fold core domain of approximately 150 residues shared by all E2s. However, as presented herein, the UbcH5 family of E2s can also bind Ub noncovalently on a surface well removed from the E2 active site. We present the solution structure of the UbcH5c/Ub noncovalent complex and demonstrate that this noncovalent interaction permits self-assembly of activated UbcH5c approximately Ub molecules. Self-assembly has profound consequences for the processive formation of polyubiquitin (poly-Ub) chains in ubiquitination reactions directed by the breast and ovarian cancer tumor susceptibility protein BRCA1.
Brzovic
Peter S
PS
Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, USA.
Lissounov
Alexei
A
Christensen
Devin E
DE
Hoyt
David W
DW
Klevit
Rachel E
RE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D025821:Polyubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D025801:Ubiquitin; D025821:Polyubiquitin; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases