去泛素化酶USP10通过稳定Smurf1抑制TGF-β/BMP信号通路

目的 探究生理条件下去泛素化酶USP10调控的关键信号通路及分子机制。方法 利用GEO2R和Metascape对Usp10^+/+和Usp10^-/-新生小鼠肾组织基因芯片(GSE198574)差异表达基因和通路富集分析,使用免疫印迹实验和免疫组化技术检验核心转录因子的表达情况;进一步利用免疫印迹检测该信号通路,并通过基因芯片和免疫组化分析候选分子的表达情况;使用免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)和GST-pull down实验验证USP10与候选分子的相互作用,通过泛素化实验明确USP10对底物分子的调控机制;利用免疫印迹检测细胞增殖、凋亡相关蛋白p21、Cleaved-caspase 3的表达情况,使用CCK-8和克隆形成实验分析USP10对细胞增殖的影响。结果 Usp10^-/-新生小鼠肾组织中TGF-β/BMP通路激活,USP10在小鼠体内缺失后导致Smad泛素相关因子1 (Smurf1)蛋白质水平降低,Smad1/5蛋白质水平上调,却不影响它们的转录水平;机制上,USP10与Smurf1存在相互作用,并依赖其去泛素化酶活性去除...     

USP8 regulates mitophagy by removing K6‐linked ubiquitin conjugates from parkin

Mutations in the Park2 gene, encoding the E3 ubiquitin‐ligase parkin, are responsible for a familial form of Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkin‐mediated ubiquitination is critical for the efficient elimination of depolarized dysfunctional mitochondria by autophagy (mitophagy). As damaged mitochondria are a major source of toxic reactive oxygen species within the cell, this pathway is believed to be highly relevant to the pathogenesis of PD. Little is known about how parkin‐mediated ubiquitination is regulated during mitophagy or about the nature of the ubiquitin conjugates involved. We report here that USP8/UBPY, a deubiquitinating enzyme not previously implicated in mitochondrial quality control, is critical for parkin‐mediated mitophagy. USP8 preferentially removes non‐canonical K6‐linked ubiquitin chains from parkin, a process required for the efficient recruitment of parkin to depolarized mitochondria and for their subsequent elimination by mitophagy. This work uncovers a novel role for USP8‐mediated deubiquitination of K6‐linked ubiquitin conjugates from parkin in mitochondrial quality control.     

USP4 inhibits p53 through deubiquitinating and stabilizing ARF-BP1

Tumour suppressor p53 levels in the cell are tightly regulated by controlled degradation through ubiquitin ligases including Mdm2, COP1, Pirh2, and ARF-BP1. The ubiquitination process is reversible via deubiquitinating enzymes, such as ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs). In this study, we identified ubiquitin-specific peptidase 4 (USP4) as an important regulator of p53. USP4 interacts directly with and deubiquitinates ARF-BP1, leading to the stabilization of ARF-BP1 and subsequent reduction of p53 levels. Usp4 knockout mice are viable and developmentally normal, but showed enhanced apoptosis in thymus and spleen in response to ionizing radiation. Compared with wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), Usp4-/- MEFs exhibited retarded growth, premature cellular senescence, resistance to oncogenic transformation, and hyperactive DNA damage checkpoints, consistent with upregulated levels and activity of p53 in the absence of USP4. Finally, we showed that USP4 is overexpressed in several types of human cancer, suggesting that USP4 is a potential oncogene.     

High incidence of ubiquitin-like domains in human ubiquitin-specific proteases

Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) emerge as key regulators of numerous cellular processes and account for the bulk of human deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Their modular structure, mostly annotated by sequence homology, is believed to determine substrate recognition and subcellular localization. Currently, a large proportion of known human USP sequences are not annotated either structurally or functionally, including regions both within and flanking their catalytic cores. To extend the current understanding of human USPs, we applied consensus fold recognition to the unannotated content of the human USP family. The most interesting discovery was the marked presence of reliably predicted ubiquitin-like (UBL) domains in this family of enzymes. The UBL domain thus appears to be the most frequently occurring domain in the human USP family, after the characteristic catalytic domain. The presence of multiple UBL domains per USP protein, as well as of UBL domains embedded in the USP catalytic core, add to the structural complexity currently recognized for many DUBs. Possible functional roles of the newly uncovered UBL domains of human USPs, including proteasome binding, and substrate and protein target specificities, are discussed.     

The ubiquitin-specific protease USP2a enhances tumor progression by targeting cyclin A1 in bladder cancer

The deubiquitinating enzyme USP2a has shown oncogenic properties in many cancer types by impairing ubiquitination of FASN, MDM2, MDMX or Aurora A. Aberrant expression of USP2a has been linked to progression of human tumors, particularly prostate cancer. However, little is known about the role of USP2a or its mechanism of action in bladder cancer. Here, we provide evidence that USP2a is an oncoprotein in bladder cancer cells. Enforced expression of USP2a caused enhanced proliferation, invasion, migration and resistance to several chemotherapeutic reagents, while USP2a loss resulted in slower proliferation, greater chemosensitivity and reduced migratory/invasive capability compared with control cells. USP2a, but not a catalytically inactive mutant, enhanced proliferation in immortalized TRT-HU1 normal human bladder epithelial cells. USP2a bound to cyclin A1 and prevented cyclin A1 ubiquitination, leading to accumulation of cyclin A1 by a block in degradation. Enforced expression of wild type USP2a, but not an inactive USP2a mutant, resulted in cyclin A1 accumulation and increased cell proliferation. We conclude that USP2a impairs ubiquitination and stabilizes an important cell cycle regulator, cyclin A1, raising the possibility of USP2a targeting as a therapeutic strategy against bladder tumors in combination with chemotherapy.     

USP8 and PARK2/parkin-mediated mitophagy

The Parkinson disease (PD)-associated E3-ubiquitin (Ub) ligase PARK2/parkin plays a central role in many stress response pathways, and in particular, in mitochondrial quality control. Within this pathway, PARK2 activation is accompanied by a robust increase in its autoubiquitination, followed by clearance of the damaged mitochondria by selective autophagy (mitophagy). Yet, little is known about how this auto-ubiquitination is regulated during mitophagy. In our study, we demonstrate that PARK2 forms predominantly K6-linked Ub conjugates on itself. Moreover, PARK2 interacts with the deubiquitinating enzyme USP8 that preferentially removes these K6-linked conjugates, thereby regulating the activity and function of PARK2 in the pathway. When USP8 is silenced, a persistence of K6-linked Ub conjugates on PARK2 delays both its translocation to damaged mitochondria and successful completion of mitophagy. Taken together, these findings implicate a novel role for K6-linked Ub conjugates and USP8-mediated deubiquitination in the regulation of PARK2 in mitochondrial quality control.     

Ubiquitination and deubiquitination of NP protein regulates influenza A virus RNA replication

Influenza A virus RNA replication requires an intricate regulatory network involving viral and cellular proteins. In this study, we examined the roles of cellular ubiquitinating/deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). We observed that downregulation of a cellular deubiquitinating enzyme USP11 resulted in enhanced virus production, suggesting that USP11 could inhibit influenza virus replication. Conversely, overexpression of USP11 specifically inhibited viral genomic RNA replication, and this inhibition required the deubiquitinase activity. Furthermore, we showed that USP11 interacted with PB2, PA, and NP of viral RNA replication complex, and that NP is a monoubiquitinated protein and can be deubiquitinated by USP11 in vivo. Finally, we identified K184 as the ubiquitination site on NP and this residue is crucial for virus RNA replication. We propose that ubiquitination/deubiquitination of NP can be manipulated for antiviral therapeutic purposes.     

The NEDD4-USP13 axis facilitates autophagy via deubiquitinating PIK3C3

ABSTRACT

Macroautophagy/autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic bioprocess, plays an important role in the bulk degradation of intracellular macromolecules, organelles, and invading pathogens. PIK3C3/VPS34 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3) functions as a key protein in autophagy initiation and progression. The activity of PIK3C3 is tightly regulated by multiple post-translational modifications, including ubiquitination, however, the regulatory mechanisms underpinning the reversible deubiquitination of PIK3C3 remain poorly understood. Recently, we identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4/NEDD4-1 as a positive regulator of autophagy through decreasing the K48-linked ubiquitination of PIK3C3 by recruiting USP13.