title: The Mdm2 RING domain C-terminus is required for supramolecular assembly and ubiquitin ligase activity.
abstract: Mdm2, a key negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor, is a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. The Mdm2 RING domain can be biochemically fractionated into two discrete species, one of which exists as higher order oligomers that are visible by electron microscopy, whereas the other is a monomer. Both fractions are ATP binding and E3 ligase activity competent, although the oligomeric fraction exhibits lower dependence on the E2 component of ubiquitin polymerization reactions. The extreme C-terminal five amino acids of Mdm2 are essential for E3 ligase activity in vivo and in vitro, as well as for oligomeric assembly of the protein. A single residue (phenylalanine 490) in that sequence is critical for both properties. Interestingly, the C-terminus of the Mdm2 homologue, MdmX (itself inert as an E3 ligase), can fully substitute for the equivalent segment of Mdm2 and restore its E3 activity. We further show that the Mdm2 C-terminus is involved in intramolecular interactions and can set up a platform for direct protein-protein interactions with the E2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Masha V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Poyurovsky
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Priest
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kentsis
authors.forename: Katherine L B
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Borden
authors.forename: Zhen-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavletich
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prives
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000737:chemistry; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025801:Ubiquitin; D010649:Phenylalanine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C497206:MDM2 protein, human; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases