p97-dependent retrotranslocation and proteolytic processing govern formation of active Nrf1 upon proteasome inhibition.
Proteasome inhibition elicits an evolutionarily conserved response wherein proteasome subunit mRNAs are upregulated, resulting in recovery (i.e., 'bounce-back') of proteasome activity. We previously demonstrated that the transcription factor Nrf1/NFE2L1 mediates this homeostatic response in mammalian cells. We show here that Nrf1 is initially translocated into the lumen of the ER, but is rapidly and efficiently retrotranslocated to the cytosolic side of the membrane in a manner that depends on p97/VCP. Normally, retrotranslocated Nrf1 is degraded promptly by the proteasome and active species do not accumulate. However, in cells with compromised proteasomes, retrotranslocated Nrf1 escapes degradation and is cleaved N-terminal to Leu-104 to yield a fragment that is no longer tethered to the ER membrane. Importantly, this cleavage event is essential for Nrf1-dependent activation of proteasome gene expression upon proteasome inhibition. Our data uncover an unexpected role for p97 in activation of a transcription factor by relocalizing it from the ER lumen to the cytosol. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01856.001.
Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States.
Senthil K
SK
Radhakrishnan
Willem
W
den Besten
Raymond J
RJ
Deshaies
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D051266:Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D021381:Protein Transport; D059748:Proteolysis; D034622:RNA Interference; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D000074405:Valosin Containing Protein
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C495633:NRF1 protein, human; C495634:Nrf1 protein, mouse; D051266:Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C000614178:VCP protein, human; D000074405:Valosin Containing Protein; C000614179:Vcp protein, mouse
Nrf1; p97; proteasome