Structure of the human 26S proteasome: subunit radial displacements open the gate into the proteolytic core.
The 26S proteasome plays an essential role in regulating many cellular processes by the degradation of proteins targeted for breakdown by ubiquitin conjugation. The 26S complex is formed from the 20S core, which contains the proteolytic active sites, and 19S regulatory complexes, which bind to the 20S core to activate it and confer specificity for ubiquitinated protein substrates. We have determined the structure of the human 26S proteasome by electron microscopy and single particle analysis. In our reconstructions the crystallographic structure of each of the subunits of the 20S core can be unambiguously docked by direct recognition of each of their densities. Our results show for the first time that binding of the 19S regulatory particle results in the radial displacement of the adjacent subunits of the 20S core leading to opening of a wide channel into the proteolytic chamber. The analysis of a proteasome complex formed from one 20S core with a single 19S regulatory particle attached serve as control to our observations. We suggest locations for some of the 19S regulatory particle subunits.
da Fonseca
Paula C A
PC
Section of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK.
Morris
Edward P
EP
D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
C484162:PSMD1 protein, human; D010450:Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; C061553:ATP dependent 26S protease