Regulation of DNA topoisomerase IIα stability by the ECV ubiquitin ligase complex

In this study, we attempted to elucidate the E3 ubiquitin ligase for topo IIα. When cullins and VHL were ectopically expressed in HT1080 and HEK293T cells, topo IIα was degraded most prominently in cullin 2- and VHL-expressing cells. Cullin 2 and the β domain (aa 114-123) of VHL, a subunit of the ECV (Elongin B/C-cullin 2-VHL protein) complex, specifically interact with the ATPase domain of topo IIα. We identified that topo IIα associated with endogenous Elongin C. In HT1080 cells co-transfected with deletion mutants of topo IIα GRDD (glucose-regulated destruction domain) and VHL, topo IIα was degraded by VHL expression. These results demonstrate that ECV acts as E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting GRDD-independent topo IIα to the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.     

Regulation of inducible nitric-oxide synthase by the SPRY domain- and SOCS box-containing proteins

Inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS, NOS2) plays a prominent role in macrophage bactericidal and tumoricidal activities. A relatively large amount of NO produced via iNOS, however, also targets the macrophage itself for apoptotic cell death. To uncover the intrinsic mechanisms of iNOS regulation, we have characterized the SPRY domain- and SOCS box-containing protein 1 (SPSB1), SPSB2, and SPSB4 that interact with the N-terminal region of iNOS in a D-I-N-N-N sequence-dependent manner. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that these SPSB proteins can induce the subcellular redistribution of iNOS from dense regions to diffused expression in a SOCS box-dependent manner. In immunoprecipitation studies, both Elongin C and Cullin-5, components of the multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase, were found to bind to iNOS via SPSB1, SPSB2, or SPSB4. Consistently, iNOS was polyubiquitinated and degraded in a proteasome-dependent manner when SPSB1, SPSB2, or SPSB4 was expressed. SPSB1 and SPSB4 had a greater effect on iNOS regulation than SPSB2. The iNOS N-terminal fragment (residues 1-124 of human iNOS) could disrupt iNOS-SPSB interactions and inhibit iNOS degradation. In lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages, this fragment attenuated iNOS ubiquitination and substantially prolonged iNOS lifetime, resulting in a corresponding increase in NO production and enhanced NO-dependent cell death. These results not only demonstrate the mechanism of SPSB-mediated iNOS degradation and the relative contributions of different SPSB proteins to iNOS regulation, but also show that iNOS levels are sophisticatedly regulated by SPSB proteins in activated macrophages to prevent overproduction of NO that could trigger detrimental effects, such as cytotoxicity.     

The ECS(SPSB) E3 ubiquitin ligase is the master regulator of the lifetime of inducible nitric-oxide synthase

The ubiquitin–proteasome pathway is an important regulatory system for the lifetime of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), a high-output isoform compared to neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS), to prevent overproduction of NO that could trigger detrimental effects such as cytotoxicity. Two E3 ubiquitin ligases, Elongin B/C−Cullin-5−SPRY domain- and SOCS box-containing protein [ECS(SPSB)] and the C-terminus of Hsp70–interacting protein (CHIP), recently have been reported to target iNOS for proteasomal degradation. However, the significance of each E3 ubiquitin ligase for the proteasomal degradation of iNOS remains to be determined. Here, we show that ECS(SPSB) specifically interacted with iNOS, but not nNOS and eNOS, and induced the subcellular redistribution of iNOS from dense regions to diffused expression as well as the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of iNOS, whereas CHIP neither interacted with iNOS nor had any effects on the subcellular localization, ubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation of iNOS. These results differ from previous reports. Furthermore, the lifetime of the iNOS(N27A) mutant, a form of iNOS that does not bind to ECS(SPSB), was substantially extended in macrophages. These results demonstrate that ECS(SPSB), but not CHIP, is the master regulator of the iNOS lifetime.