Ubiquitin-protein conjugates accumulate in the lysosomal system of fibroblasts treated with cysteine proteinase inhibitors. |
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| Authors: | F J Doherty N U Osborn J A Wassell P E Heggie L Laszlo and R J Mayer |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Biochemistry, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | Mouse fibroblasts (3T3-L1 cells) accumulate detergent- and salt-insoluble aggregates of proteins conjugated to ubiquitin when incubated in the presence of inhibitors of lysosomal cysteine cathepsins, including E-64. These ubiquitin-protein conjugates co-fractionate with lysosomes on density gradients and are found in multivesicular dense bodies which by electron microscopy appear to be engaged in microautophagy. Both E-64 and ammonium chloride increase the intracellular concentration of free ubiquitin, but only E-64 leads to the formation of insoluble lysosomal ubiquitin-protein conjugates. The results are discussed in relation to the possible intracellular roles of ubiquitin conjugation. |
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