PAN, the proteasome-activating nucleotidase from archaebacteria, is a protein-unfolding molecular chaperone

The proteasome-activating nucleotidase (PAN) from Methanococcus jannaschii is a complex of relative molecular mass 650,000 that is homologous to the ATPases in the eukaryotic 26S proteasome. When mixed with 20S archaeal proteasomes and ATP, PAN stimulates protein degradation. Here we show that PAN reduces aggregation of denatured proteins and enhances their refolding. These processes do not require ATP hydrolysis, although ATP binding enhances the ability of PAN to prevent aggregation. PAN also catalyses the unfolding of the green fluorescent protein with an 11-residue ssrA extension at its carboxy terminus (GFP11). This unfolding requires ATP hydrolysis, and is linked to GFP11 degradation when 20S proteasomes are also present. This unfolding activity seems to be essential for ATP-dependent proteolysis, although PAN may function by itself as a molecular chaperone.     

ATP hydrolysis by the proteasome regulatory complex PAN serves multiple functions in protein degradation

To clarify the role of ATP in proteolysis, we studied archaeal 20S proteasomes and the PAN (proteasome-activating nucleotidase) regulatory complex, a homolog of the eukaryotic 19S ATPases. PAN's ATPase activity was stimulated similarly by globular (GFPssrA) and unfolded (casein) substrates, and by the ssrA recognition peptide. Denaturation of GFPssrA did not accelerate its degradation or eliminate the requirement for PAN and ATP. During degradation of one molecule of globular or unfolded substrates, 300-400 ATP molecules were hydrolyzed. An N-terminal deletion in the 20S alpha subunits caused opening of the substrate-entry channel and rapid degradation of unfolded proteins without PAN; however, degradation of globular GFPssrA still required PAN's ATPase activity, even after PAN-catalyzed unfolding. Thus, substrate binding activates ATP hydrolysis, which promotes three processes: substrate unfolding, gate opening in the 20S, and protein translocation.     

ATP-induced structural transitions in PAN, the proteasome-regulatory ATPase complex in Archaea

ATP binding to the PAN-ATPase complex in Archaea or the homologous 19 S protease-regulatory complex in eukaryotes induces association with the 20 S proteasome and opening of its substrate entry channel, whereas ATP hydrolysis allows unfolding of globular substrates. To clarify the conformational changes associated with ATP binding and hydrolysis, we used protease sensitivity to monitor the conformations of the PAN ATPase from Methanococcus jannischii. Exhaustive trypsin treatment of PAN generated five distinct fragments, two of which differed when a nucleotide (either ATP, ATP gamma S, or ADP) was bound. Surprisingly, the nucleotide concentrations altering protease sensitivity were much lower (K(a) 20-40 microm) than are required for ATP-dependent protein breakdown by the PAN-20S proteasome complex (K(m) approximately 300-500 microm). Unlike trypsin, proteinase K yielded several fragments that differed in the ATP gamma S and ADP-bound forms, and thus revealed conformational transitions associated with ATP hydrolysis. Mapping the fragments generated by each revealed that nucleotide binding and hydrolysis induce local conformational changes, affecting the Walker A and B nucleotide-binding motif, as well as global changes extending to its carboxyl terminus. The location and overlap of the fragments also suggest that the conformation of the six subunits is not identical, probably because they do not all bind ATP simultaneously. Partial nucleotide occupancy was supported by direct assays, which demonstrated that, at saturating conditions, only four nucleotides are bound to hexameric PAN. Using the protease protection maps, we modeled the conformational changes associated with ATP binding and hydrolysis in PAN based on the x-ray structures of the homologous AAA ATPase, HslU.     

ATP binding to PAN or the 26S ATPases causes association with the 20S proteasome, gate opening, and translocation of unfolded proteins

The archaeal ATPase complex PAN, the homolog of the eukaryotic 26S proteasome-regulatory ATPases, was shown to associate transiently with the 20S proteasome upon binding of ATP or ATPgammaS, but not ADP. By electron microscopy (EM), PAN appears as a two-ring structure, capping the 20S, and resembles two densities in the 19S complex. The N termini of the archaeal 20S alpha subunits were found to function as a gate that prevents entry of seven-residue peptides but allows entry of tetrapeptides. Upon association with the 20S particle, PAN stimulates gate opening. Although degradation of globular proteins requires ATP hydrolysis, the PAN-20S complex with ATPgammaS translocates and degrades unfolded and denatured proteins. Rabbit 26S proteasomes also degrade these unfolded proteins upon ATP binding, without hydrolysis. Thus, although unfolding requires energy from ATP hydrolysis, ATP binding alone supports ATPase-20S association, gate opening, and translocation of unfolded substrates into the proteasome, which can occur by facilitated diffusion through the ATPase.     

Interactions of PAN's C‐termini with archaeal 20S proteasome and implications for the eukaryotic proteasome–ATPase interactions

Protein degradation in the 20S proteasome is regulated in eukaryotes by the 19S ATPase complex and in archaea by the homologous PAN ATPase ring complex. Subunits of these hexameric ATPases contain on their C‐termini a conserved hydrophobic‐tyrosine‐X (HbYX) motif that docks into pockets in the 20S to stimulate the opening of a gated substrate entry channel. Here, we report the crystal structure of the archaeal 20S proteasome in complex with the C‐terminus of the archaeal proteasome regulatory ATPase, PAN. This structure defines the detailed interactions between the critical C‐terminal HbYX motif and the 20S α‐subunits and indicates that the intersubunit pocket in the 20S undergoes an induced‐fit conformational change on binding of the HbYX motif. This structure together with related mutagenesis data suggest how in eukaryotes certain proteasomal ATPases bind to specific pockets in an asymmetrical manner to regulate gate opening.     

Proteasomes and their associated ATPases: a destructive combination

Protein degradation by 20S proteasomes in vivo requires ATP hydrolysis by associated hexameric AAA ATPase complexes such as PAN in archaea and the homologous ATPases in the eukaryotic 26S proteasome. This review discusses recent insights into their multistep mechanisms and the roles of ATP. We have focused on the PAN complex, which offers many advantages for mechanistic and structural studies over the more complex 26S proteasome. By single-particle EM, PAN resembles a "top-hat" capping the ends of the 20S proteasome and resembles densities in the base of the 19S regulatory complex. The binding of ATP promotes formation of the PAN-20S complex, which induces opening of a gate for substrate entry into the 20S. PAN's C-termini, containing a conserved motif, docks into pockets in the 20S's alpha ring and causes gate opening. Surprisingly, once substrates are unfolded, their translocation into the 20S requires ATP-binding but not hydrolysis and can occur by facilitated diffusion through the ATPase in its ATP-bound form. ATP therefore serves multiple functions in proteolysis and the only step that absolutely requires ATP hydrolysis is the unfolding of globular proteins. The 26S proteasome appears to function by similar mechanisms.     

Both ATPase Domains of ClpA Are Critical for Processing of Stable Protein Structures

ClpA is a ring-shaped hexameric chaperone that binds to both ends of the protease ClpP and catalyzes the ATP-dependent unfolding and translocation of substrate proteins through its central pore into the ClpP cylinder. Here we study the relevance of ATP hydrolysis in the two ATPase domains of ClpA. We designed ClpA Walker B variants lacking ATPase activity in the first (D1) or the second ATPase domain (D2) without impairing ATP binding. We found that the two ATPase domains of ClpA operate independently even in the presence of the protease ClpP or the adaptor protein ClpS. Notably, ATP hydrolysis in the first ATPase module is sufficient to process a small, single domain protein of low stability. Substrate proteins of moderate local stability were efficiently processed when D1 was inactivated. However, ATP hydrolysis in both domains was required for efficiently processing substrates of high local stability. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the ClpS-dependent directional translocation of N-end rule substrates from the N to C terminus and propose a mechanistic model for substrate handover from the adaptor protein to the chaperone.     

Biochemical and physical properties of the Methanococcus jannaschii 20S proteasome and PAN, a homolog of the ATPase (Rpt) subunits of the eucaryal 26S proteasome

The 20S proteasome is a self-compartmentalized protease which degrades unfolded polypeptides and has been purified from eucaryotes, gram-positive actinomycetes, and archaea. Energy-dependent complexes, such as the 19S cap of the eucaryal 26S proteasome, are assumed to be responsible for the recognition and/or unfolding of substrate proteins which are then translocated into the central chamber of the 20S proteasome and hydrolyzed to polypeptide products of 3 to 30 residues. All archaeal genomes which have been sequenced are predicted to encode proteins with up to approximately 50% identity to the six ATPase subunits of the 19S cap. In this study, one of these archaeal homologs which has been named PAN for proteasome-activating nucleotidase was characterized from the hyperthermophile Methanococcus jannaschii. In addition, the M. jannaschii 20S proteasome was purified as a 700-kDa complex by in vitro assembly of the alpha and beta subunits and has an unusually high rate of peptide and unfolded-polypeptide hydrolysis at 100 degrees C. The 550-kDa PAN complex was required for CTP- or ATP-dependent degradation of beta-casein by archaeal 20S proteasomes. A 500-kDa complex of PAN(Delta1-73), which has a deletion of residues 1 to 73 of the deduced protein and disrupts the predicted N-terminal coiled-coil, also facilitated this energy-dependent proteolysis. However, this deletion increased the types of nucleotides hydrolyzed to include not only ATP and CTP but also ITP, GTP, TTP, and UTP. The temperature optimum for nucleotide (ATP) hydrolysis was reduced from 80 degrees C for the full-length protein to 65 degrees C for PAN(Delta1-73). Both PAN protein complexes were stable in the absence of ATP and were inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuriphenyl-sulfonic acid. Kinetic analysis reveals that the PAN protein has a relatively high V(max) for ATP and CTP hydrolysis of 3.5 and 5.8 micromol of P(i) per min per mg of protein as well as a relatively low affinity for CTP and ATP with K(m) values of 307 and 497 microM compared to other proteins of the AAA family. Based on electron micrographs, PAN and PAN(Delta1-73) apparently associate with the ends of the 20S proteasome cylinder. These results suggest that the M. jannaschii as well as related archaeal 20S proteasomes require a nucleotidase complex such as PAN to mediate the energy-dependent hydrolysis of folded-substrate proteins and that the N-terminal 73 amino acid residues of PAN are not absolutely required for this reaction.     

The mycobacterial Mpa–proteasome unfolds and degrades pupylated substrates by engaging Pup's N‐terminus

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, along with other actinobacteria, harbours proteasomes in addition to members of the general bacterial repertoire of degradation complexes. In analogy to ubiquitination in eukaryotes, substrates are tagged for proteasomal degradation with prokaryotic ubiquitin‐like protein (Pup) that is recognized by the N‐terminal coiled‐coil domain of the ATPase Mpa (also called ARC). Here, we reconstitute the entire mycobacterial proteasome degradation system for pupylated substrates and establish its mechanistic features with respect to substrate recruitment, unfolding and degradation. We show that the Mpa–proteasome complex unfolds and degrades Pup‐tagged proteins and that this activity requires physical interaction of the ATPase with the proteasome. Furthermore, we establish the N‐terminal region of Pup as the structural element required for engagement of pupylated substrates into the Mpa pore. In this process, Mpa pulls on Pup to initiate unfolding of substrate proteins and to drag them toward the proteasome chamber. Unlike the eukaryotic ubiquitin, Pup is not recycled but degraded with the substrate. This assigns a dual function to Pup as both the Mpa recognition element as well as the threading determinant.     

Proteasomes begin ornithine decarboxylase digestion at the C terminus

Proteasomes denature folded protein substrates and thread them through a narrow pore that leads to the sequestered sites of proteolysis. Whether a protein substrate initiates insertion from its N or C terminus or in a random orientation has not been determined for any natural substrate. We used the labile enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is recognized by the proteasome via a 37-residue C-terminal tag, to answer this question. Three independent approaches were used to assess orientation as follows. 1) The 461-residue ODC protein chain was interrupted at position 305. The C-terminal fragment was degraded by purified proteasomes, but because processivity requires continuity of the polypeptide chain, the N-terminal fragment was spared. 2) A proteasome-inhibitory viral sequence prevented degradation when introduced near the C terminus but not when inserted elsewhere in ODC. 3) A bulky tightly folded protein obstructed in vivo degradation most effectively when positioned near the C terminus. These data demonstrate that the proteasome initiates degradation of this native substrate at the C terminus. The co-localization of entry site and degradation tag to the ODC C terminus suggests that recognition tags determine the site for initiating entry. Flexibility of a polypeptide terminus may promote the initiation of degradation.     

Architecture and Molecular Mechanism of PAN, the Archaeal Proteasome Regulatory ATPase

In Archaea, an hexameric ATPase complex termed PAN promotes proteins unfolding and translocation into the 20 S proteasome. PAN is highly homologous to the six ATPases of the eukaryotic 19 S proteasome regulatory complex. Thus, insight into the mechanism of PAN function may reveal a general mode of action mutual to the eukaryotic 19 S proteasome regulatory complex. In this study we generated a three-dimensional model of PAN from tomographic reconstruction of negatively stained particles. Surprisingly, this reconstruction indicated that the hexameric complex assumes a two-ring structure enclosing a large cavity. Assessment of distinct three-dimensional functional states of PAN in the presence of adenosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate) and ADP and in the absence of nucleotides outlined a possible mechanism linking nucleotide binding and hydrolysis to substrate recognition, unfolding, and translocation. A novel feature of the ATPase complex revealed in this study is a gate controlling the “exit port” of the regulatory complex and, presumably, translocation into the 20 S proteasome. Based on our structural and biochemical findings, we propose a possible model in which substrate binding and unfolding are linked to structural transitions driven by nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, whereas translocation into the proteasome only depends upon the presence of an unfolded substrate and binding but not hydrolysis of nucleotide.In eukaryotic cells most protein breakdown in the cytosol and nucleus is catalyzed by the 26 S proteasome. This ∼2.5-MDa (1) complex degrades ubiquitin-conjugated and certain non-ubiquitinated proteins in an ATP-dependent manner (2, 3). The 26 S complex is composed of one or two 19 S regulatory particles situated at the ends of the cylindrical 20 S proteasome. Within the 26 S complex, proteins are hydrolyzed in the 20 S proteasome. Tagged substrates, however, first bind to the 19 S regulatory particle, which catalyzes their unfolding and translocation into the 20 S subcomplex (4, 5). The 19 S regulatory particle consists of at least 17 different subunits (1, 6). Nine of these subunits form a “lid,” whereas the other eight subunits, including six ATPases, comprise the base of the 19 S particle. Electron microscopy (7–10) as well as cross-linking experiments (11, 12) have demonstrated that the six homologous ATPases are associated with the α rings of the 20 S particle.Unlike eukaryotes, Archaea and certain eubacteria contain homologous 20 S particles but lack ubiquitin. Their proteasomes degrade proteins in association with a hexameric ATPase ring complex termed PAN (13). PAN appears to be the evolutionary precursor of the 19 S base, predating the coupling of ubiquitination and proteolysis in eukaryotes (14). In addition, PAN recognizes the bacterial targeting sequence ssrA (in analogy to the polyubiquitin conjugates in eukaryotes) and efficiently unfolds and translocates globular substrates, like green fluorescent protein, when tagged with ssrA (15). In both PAN and the 19 S proteasome regulatory complexes, ATP is essential for substrate unfolding and translocation and for opening of the gated channel in the α ring through which substrates enter the 20 S particle (15–17). Because this portal is quite narrow (18–20), only extended polypeptides can enter the 20 S proteasome. Consequently, a globular substrate must be unfolded by the associated ATPase complex to be translocated and digested within the 20 S particle.PAN and the six ATPases found at the base of the 19 S particle are members of the AAA+ superfamily of multimeric ATPases which also includes the ATP-dependent proteases Lon and FtsH and the regulatory components of the bacterial ATP-dependent proteases ClpAP, ClpXP, and HslUV (8, 21). For mechanistic studies of the roles of ATP, the simpler archaeal PAN-20 S system offers many technical advantages over the much more complex 26 S proteasome. For example, prior studies of PAN (17, 22) demonstrated that unfolding of globular substrates (e.g. green fluorescent protein-ssrA) requires ATP hydrolysis. The same was also shown for the Escherichia coli ATP-dependent proteases ClpXP (23) and ClpAP (24). We have also shown that unfolding by PAN can take place on the surface of the ATPase ring in the absence of translocation (15). Thus, unfolding seems to proceed independently from protein translocation into the 20 S proteolytic particle. It is noteworthy that other studies suggest that proteins are unfolded by energy-dependent translocation through the ATPase ring (25, 26). These studies have suggested that the translocation of an unfolded polypeptide from the ATPase into the 20 S core is an active process that is coupled to ATP hydrolysis. A key to underline a detailed molecular mechanism for substrate binding, unfolding, and translocation by the proteasome regulatory ATPase complex is improved understanding of its architecture and the nucleotide-dependent structural transitions that afford these functions.To date we and others have failed to generate micrographs suitable for three-dimensional reconstruction of PAN using single-particle EM analysis. Likewise, structural information regarding the three-dimensional architecture and subunit organization within the 19 S particle is very limited. In fact, high resolution three-dimensional information on the 19 S complex is not yet available. Most knowledge available is based on cross-linking experiments (11, 12) as well as EM structural analysis (7–10), which provided a three-dimensional model outline of the general architecture of the 26 S complex. Unlike the 19 S complex, the structure of the 20 S subcomplex was determined by x-ray crystallography (18, 19). In contrast to the highly homogenous structure of the 20 S complex, the structural heterogeneity and flexibility of the 19 S subcomplex is presumably reflected in multiple conformations, which in turn also contribute to the difficulty in generating a high resolution three-dimensional structural model of the 26 S proteasome. Accordingly, the initial goal of this study was to generate a three-dimensional model of PAN that will allow us to determine its general architecture and to correlate unique conformational transitions within this ATPase with the nucleotide state of the complex (i.e. in the presence of ATPγS, ADP, or in the absence of nucleotides).Smith et al. (27) suggested a general architecture for the PAN-20 S complex based on two-dimensional averaging of a Thermoplasma acidophilum (TA)³ 20 S proteasome and Methanococcus jannaschii (MJ) PAN hybrid complex in the presence of ATPγS. Based on side-view projections of that complex, these authors proposed that PAN assumes an overall structure similar to E. coli HslU (28–30).We realized that although PAN appears heterogeneous in electron micrographs, it does not occupy all possible orientations when adsorbed to carbon-coated electron microscopy (EM) grids, a prerequisite for single particle analysis. This problem was overcome by applying electron tomography in conjunction with a three-dimensional averaging procedure that accounts for the missing wedge in the Fourier space of electron tomograms (31, 32). The three-dimensional model generated revealed an unexpected architecture leading to a possible molecular mechanism describing the function of PAN and presumably the 19 S ATPases.     

Docking of the proteasomal ATPases' carboxyl termini in the 20S proteasome's alpha ring opens the gate for substrate entry

The 20S proteasome functions in protein degradation in eukaryotes together with the 19S ATPases or in archaea with the homologous PAN ATPase complex. These ATPases contain a conserved C-terminal hydrophobic-tyrosine-X motif (HbYX). We show that these residues are essential for PAN to associate with the 20S and open its gated channel for substrate entry. Upon ATP binding, these C-terminal residues bind to pockets between the 20S's alpha subunits. Seven-residue or longer peptides from PAN's C terminus containing the HbYX motif also bind to these sites and induce gate opening in the 20S. Gate opening could be induced by C-terminal peptides from the 19S ATPase subunits, Rpt2, and Rpt5, but not by ones from PA28/26, which lack the HbYX motif and cause gate opening by distinct mechanisms. C-terminal residues in the 19S ATPases were also shown to be critical for gating and stability of 26S proteasomes. Thus, the C termini of the proteasomal ATPases function like a "key in a lock" to induce gate opening and allow substrate entry.     

ATP-Dependent Inactivation and Sequestration of Ornithine Decarboxylase by the 26S Proteasome Are Prerequisites for Degradation

The 26S proteasome is a eukaryotic ATP-dependent protease, but the molecular basis of its energy requirement is largely unknown. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the only known enzyme to be degraded by the 26S proteasome without ubiquitinylation. We report here that the 26S proteasome is responsible for the irreversible inactivation coupled to sequestration of ODC, a process requiring ATP and antizyme (AZ) but not proteolytic activity. Neither the 20S proteasome (catalytic core) nor PA700 (the regulatory complex) by itself contributed to this ODC inactivation. Analysis with a C-terminal mutant ODC revealed that the 26S proteasome recognizes the C-terminal degradation signal of ODC exposed by attachment of AZ, and subsequent ATP-dependent sequestration of ODC in the 26S proteasome causes irreversible inactivation, possibly unfolding, of ODC and dissociation of AZ. These processes may be linked to the translocation of ODC into the 20S proteasomal inner cavity, centralized within the 26S proteasome, for degradation.     

Degradation of ornithine decarboxylase by the 26S proteasome

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Turnover of ODC is extremely rapid and highly regulated, and is accelerated when polyamine levels increase. Polyamine-stimulated ODC degradation is mediated by association with antizyme (AZ), an ODC inhibitory protein induced by polyamines. ODC, in association with AZ, is degraded by the 26S proteasome in an ATP-dependent, but ubiquitin-independent, manner. The 26S proteasome irreversibly inactivates ODC prior to its degradation. The inactivation, possibly due to unfolding, is coupled to sequestration of ODC within the 26S proteasome. This process requires AZ and ATP, but not proteolytic activity of the 26S proteasome. The carboxyl-terminal region of ODC presumably exposed by interaction with AZ plays a critical role for being trapped by the 26S proteasome. Thus, the degradation pathway of ODC proceeds as a sequence of multiple distinct processes, including recognition, sequestration, unfolding, translocation, and ultimate degradation mediated by the 26S proteasome.     

Gly-Ala repeats induce position- and substrate-specific regulation of 26 S proteasome-dependent partial processing

Partial degradation or regulated ubiquitin proteasome-dependent processing by the 26 S proteasome has been demonstrated, but the underlying molecular mechanisms and the prevalence of this phenomenon remain obscure. Here we show that the Gly-Ala repeat (GAr) sequence of EBNA1 affects processing of substrates via the ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathway in a substrate- and position-specific fashion. GAr-mediated increase in stability of proteins targeted for degradation via the 26 S proteasome was associated with a fraction of the substrates being partially processed and the release of the free GAr. The GAr did not cause a problem for the proteolytic activity of the proteasome, and its fusion to the N terminus of p53 resulted in an increase in the rate of degradation of the entire chimera. Interestingly the GAr had little effect on the stability of EBNA1 protein itself, and targeting EBNA1 for 26 S proteasome-dependent degradation led to its complete degradation. Taken together, our data suggest a model in which the GAr prevents degradation or promotes endoproteolytic processing of substrates targeted for the 26 S proteasome by interfering with the initiation step of substrate unfolding. These results will help to further understand the underlying mechanisms for partial proteasome-dependent degradation.     

Identification of a region in the N-terminus of Escherichia coli Lon that affects ATPase, substrate translocation and proteolytic activity

Lon, also known as protease La, is an AAA+ protease machine that contains the ATPase and proteolytic domain within each enzyme subunit. Three truncated Escherichia coli Lon (ELon) mutants were generated based on a previous limited tryptic digestion result and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analyses performed in this study. Using methods developed for characterizing wild-type (WT) Lon, we compared the ATPase, ATP-dependent protein degradation and ATP-dependent peptidase activities. With the exception of not degrading a putative structured substrate known as CcrM (cell-cycle-regulated DNA methyltransferase), the mutant lacking the first 239 residues behaved like WT ELon. Comparing the activity data of WT and ELon mutants reveals that the first 239 residues are not needed for minimal enzyme catalysis. The mutants lacking the first 252 residues or residues 232-252 displayed compromised ATPase, protein degradation and ATP-dependent peptide translocation abilities but retained WT-like steady-state peptidase activity. The binding affinities of WT and Lon mutants were evaluated by determining the concentration of λ N (K(λN)) needed to achieve 50% maximal ATPase stimulation. Comparing the K(λN) values reveals that the region encompassing 232-252 of ELon could contribute to λ N binding, but the effect is modest. Taken together, results generated from this study reveal that the region constituting residues 240-252 of ELon is important for ATPase activity, substrate translocation and protein degradation.     

Degradation of Some Polyubiquitinated Proteins Requires an Intrinsic Proteasomal Binding Element in the Substrates

Lysine 48-linked polyubiquitin chains usually target proteins for 26 S proteasomal degradation; however, this modification is not a warrant for destruction. Here, we found that efficient degradation of a physiological substrate UbcH10 requires not only an exogenous polyubiquitin chain modification but also its unstructured N-terminal region. Interestingly, the unstructured N-terminal region of UbcH10 directly binds the 19 S regulatory complex of the 26 S proteasome, and it mediates the initiation of substrate translocation. To promote ubiquitin- dependent degradation of the folded domains of UbcH10, its N-terminal region can be displaced by exogenous proteasomal binding elements. Moreover, the unstructured N-terminal region can initiate substrate translocation even when UbcH10 is artificially cyclized without a free terminus. Polyubiquitinated circular UbcH10 is completely degraded by the 26 S proteasome. Accordingly, we propose that degradation of some polyubiquitinated proteins requires two binding interactions: a polyubiquitin chain and an intrinsic proteasomal binding element in the substrates (likely an unstructured region); moreover, the intrinsic proteasomal binding element initiates substrate translocation regardless of its location in the substrates.     

Dependence of proteasome processing rate on substrate unfolding

Protein degradation by eukaryotic proteasomes is a multi-step process involving substrate recognition, ATP-dependent unfolding, translocation into the proteolytic core particle, and finally proteolysis. To date, most investigations of proteasome function have focused on the first and the last steps in this process. Here we examine the relationship between the stability of a folded protein domain and its degradation rate. Test proteins were targeted to the proteasome independently of ubiquitination by directly tethering them to the protease. Degradation kinetics were compared for test protein pairs whose stability was altered by either point mutation or ligand binding, but were otherwise identical. In both intact cells and in reactions using purified proteasomes and substrates, increased substrate stability led to an increase in substrate turnover time. The steady-state time for degradation ranged from ～5 min (dihydrofolate reductase) to 40 min (I27 domain of titin). ATP turnover was 110/min./proteasome, and was not markedly changed by substrate. Proteasomes engage tightly folded substrates in multiple iterative rounds of ATP hydrolysis, a process that can be rate-limiting for degradation.     

The Archaeal Proteasome Is Regulated by a Network of AAA ATPases

The proteasome is the central machinery for targeted protein degradation in archaea, Actinobacteria, and eukaryotes. In its basic form, it consists of a regulatory ATPase complex and a proteolytic core particle. The interaction between the two is governed by an HbYX motif (where Hb is a hydrophobic residue, Y is tyrosine, and X is any amino acid) at the C terminus of the ATPase subunits, which stimulates gate opening of the proteasomal α-subunits. In archaea, the proteasome-interacting motif is not only found in canonical proteasome-activating nucleotidases of the PAN/ARC/Rpt group, which are absent in major archaeal lineages, but also in proteins of the CDC48/p97/VAT and AMA groups, suggesting a regulatory network of proteasomal ATPases. Indeed, Thermoplasma acidophilum, which lacks PAN, encodes one CDC48 protein that interacts with the 20S proteasome and activates the degradation of model substrates. In contrast, Methanosarcina mazei contains seven AAA proteins, five of which, both PAN proteins, two out of three CDC48 proteins, and the AMA protein, function as proteasomal gatekeepers. The prevalent presence of multiple, distinct proteasomal ATPases in archaea thus results in a network of regulatory ATPases that may widen the substrate spectrum of proteasomal protein degradation.