Structural basis of the specificity of USP18 toward ISG15.
Protein modification by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifiers (Ubls) is counteracted by ubiquitin proteases and Ubl proteases, collectively termed DUBs. In contrast to other proteases of the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) family, USP18 shows no reactivity toward ubiquitin but specifically deconjugates the interferon-induced Ubl ISG15. To identify the molecular determinants of this specificity, we solved the crystal structures of mouse USP18 alone and in complex with mouse ISG15. USP18 was crystallized in an open and a closed conformation, thus revealing high flexibility of the enzyme. Structural data, biochemical and mutational analysis showed that only the C-terminal ubiquitin-like domain of ISG15 is recognized and essential for USP18 activity. A critical hydrophobic patch in USP18 interacts with a hydrophobic region unique to ISG15, thus providing evidence that USP18's ISG15 specificity is mediated by a small interaction interface. Our results may provide a structural basis for the development of new drugs modulating ISG15 linkage.
Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Anja
A
Basters
Department of Chemical Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands.
Paul P
PP
Geurink
Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Annika
A
Röcker
Department of Chemical Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands.
Katharina F
KF
Witting
Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.|Hermann-Staudinger-Graduate school, University of Freiburg, Hebelstrasse 27, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Roya
R
Tadayon
Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Sandra
S
Hess
Structural Biology Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., SS 14 - km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
Marta S
MS
Semrau
Structural Biology Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., SS 14 - km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
Paola
P
Storici
Department of Chemical Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands.
Huib
H
Ovaa
Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Klaus-Peter
KP
Knobeloch
Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Günter
G
Fritz
D000818:Animals; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D000072417:Protein Domains; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; C489550:G1p2 protein, mouse; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin; D014452:Ubiquitins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; C118306:Usp18 protein, mouse; C485560:USP18 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C000620727:Usp18 protein, zebrafish