The Aspartic Protease Ddi1 Contributes to DNA-Protein Crosslink Repair in Yeast

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Ubiquitin-specific Protease 11 (USP11) Deubiquitinates Hybrid Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO)-Ubiquitin Chains to Counteract RING Finger Protein 4 (RNF4)

Ring finger protein 4 (RNF4) is a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin E3 ligase with a pivotal function in the DNA damage response (DDR). SUMO interaction motifs (SIMs) in the N-terminal part of RNF4 tightly bind to SUMO polymers, and RNF4 can ubiquitinate these polymers in vitro. Using a proteomic approach, we identified the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11), a known DDR-component, as a functional interactor of RNF4. USP11 can deubiquitinate hybrid SUMO-ubiquitin chains to counteract RNF4. SUMO-enriched nuclear bodies are stabilized by USP11, which functions downstream of RNF4 as a counterbalancing factor. In response to DNA damage induced by methyl methanesulfonate, USP11 could counteract RNF4 to inhibit the dissolution of nuclear bodies. Thus, we provide novel insight into cross-talk between ubiquitin and SUMO and uncover USP11 and RNF4 as a balanced SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase/protease pair with a role in the DDR.     

Replication-Coupled DNA-Protein Crosslink Repair by SPRTN and the Proteasome in Xenopus Egg Extracts

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Structural and biochemical basis of interdependent FANCI‐FANCD2 ubiquitination

Di‐monoubiquitination of the FANCI‐FANCD2 (ID2) complex is a central and crucial step for the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks via the Fanconi anaemia pathway. While FANCD2 ubiquitination precedes FANCI ubiquitination, FANCD2 is also deubiquitinated at a faster rate than FANCI, which can result in a FANCI‐ubiquitinated ID2 complex (I_UbD2). Here, we present a 4.1 Å cryo‐EM structure of I_UbD2 complex bound to double‐stranded DNA. We show that this complex, like ID2_Ub and I_UbD2_Ub, is also in the closed ID2 conformation and clamps on DNA. The target lysine of FANCD2 (K561) becomes fully exposed in the I_UbD2‐DNA structure and is thus primed for ubiquitination. Similarly, FANCI''s target lysine (K523) is also primed for ubiquitination in the ID2_Ub‐DNA complex. The I_UbD2‐DNA complex exhibits deubiquitination resistance, conferred by the presence of DNA and FANCD2. ID2_Ub‐DNA, on the other hand, can be efficiently deubiquitinated by USP1‐UAF1, unless further ubiquitination on FANCI occurs. Therefore, FANCI ubiquitination effectively maintains FANCD2 ubiquitination in two ways: it prevents excessive FANCD2 deubiquitination within an I_UbD2_Ub‐DNA complex, and it enables re‐ubiquitination of FANCD2 within a transient, closed‐on‐DNA, I_UbD2 complex.     

冠状病毒PLpro蛋白酶对泛素样分子的DUB活性

SARS冠状病毒基因组中非结构基因nsp3编码的木瓜样蛋白酶 (PLpro) 在病毒基因组复制及逃避宿主天然免疫中发挥重要作用,是研发抗病毒药物的重要靶标．SARS冠状病毒PLpro是一种病毒编码的去泛素化酶 (DUB)．为深入研究SARS冠状病毒 PLpro对泛素样分子 (ubiquitin-like protein,UBL) 的DUB特性,本研究构建缺失 PLpro N末端泛素样结构域 (Ubl) 和下游跨膜结构域 (TM) 的PLpro构建体（constructs）,并构建3种缺失蛋白酶催化活性的突变体,检测PLpro对泛素样分子干扰素刺激基因15 (ISG15)及SUMO-1的作用．实验结果表明,PLpro和PLpro-TM 在细胞内具有很强的去ISG(DeISGylation) 活性;缺失PLpro N末端泛素样结构域(Ubl) 对PLpro 的去ISG15 活性没有影响;对PLpro蛋白酶活性位点C1651 和 H1812 突变后,PLpro-TM的去ISG15活性消失,而对D1826位点突变后不影响此活性．PLpro 不具有去SUMO (DeSUMOylation)活性,而PLpro-TM具有一定的去SUMO活性;PLpro催化活性相关的3个关键氨基酸残基 Cys-His-Asp突变后对去SUMO活性有一定的影响．研究结果提示,SARS PLpro除了具有DUB的活性,还具有体内去ISG活性和去SUMO活性;PLpro蛋白酶活性与其去ISG活性之间有一定相关性;PLpro去SUMO-1 活性具有TM 依赖性．SARS冠状病毒PLpro 对泛素样分子作用特性的研究为阐明病毒逃避宿主天然免疫机制和开发新型抗病毒药物提供重要的理论依据．     

Ubiquitin-specific Peptidase 20 Regulates Rad17 Stability,Checkpoint Kinase 1 Phosphorylation and DNA Repair by Homologous Recombination

Rad17 is a subunit of the Rad9-Hus1-Rad1 clamp loader complex, which is required for Chk1 activation after DNA damage. Rad17 has been shown to be regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We have identified a deubiquitylase, USP20 that is required for Rad17 protein stability in the steady-state and post DNA damage. We demonstrate that USP20 and Rad17 interact, and that this interaction is enhanced by UV exposure. We show that USP20 regulation of Rad17 is at the protein level in a proteasome-dependent manner. USP20 depletion results in poor activation of Chk1 protein by phosphorylation, consistent with Rad17 role in ATR-mediated phosphorylation of Chk1. Similar to other DNA repair proteins, USP20 is phosphorylated post DNA damage, and its depletion sensitizes cancer cells to damaging agents that form blocks ahead of the replication forks. Similar to Chk1 and Rad17, which enhance recombinational repair of collapsed replication forks, we demonstrate that USP20 depletion impairs DNA double strand break repair by homologous recombination. Together, our data establish a new function of USP20 in genome maintenance and DNA repair.     

Ubiquitin-specific Protease 7 Regulates Nucleotide Excision Repair through Deubiquitinating XPC Protein and Preventing XPC Protein from Undergoing Ultraviolet Light-induced and VCP/p97 Protein-regulated Proteolysis

Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) is a known deubiquitinating enzyme for tumor suppressor p53 and its downstream regulator, E3 ubiquitin ligase Mdm2. Here we report that USP7 regulates nucleotide excision repair (NER) via deubiquitinating xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) protein, a critical damage recognition factor that binds to helix-distorting DNA lesions and initiates NER. XPC is ubiquitinated during the early stage of NER of UV light-induced DNA lesions. We demonstrate that transiently compromising cellular USP7 by siRNA and chemical inhibition leads to accumulation of ubiquitinated forms of XPC, whereas complete USP7 deficiency leads to rapid ubiquitin-mediated XPC degradation upon UV irradiation. We show that USP7 physically interacts with XPC in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of wild-type USP7, but not its catalytically inactive or interaction-defective mutants, reduces the ubiquitinated forms of XPC. Importantly, USP7 efficiently deubiquitinates XPC-ubiquitin conjugates in deubiquitination assays in vitro. We further show that valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97 is involved in UV light-induced XPC degradation in USP7-deficient cells. VCP/p97 is readily recruited to DNA damage sites and colocalizes with XPC. Chemical inhibition of the activity of VCP/p97 ATPase causes an increase in ubiquitinated XPC on DNA-damaged chromatin. Moreover, USP7 deficiency severely impairs the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and, to a lesser extent, affects the repair of 6-4 photoproducts. Taken together, our findings uncovered an important role of USP7 in regulating NER via deubiquitinating XPC and by preventing its VCP/p97-regulated proteolysis.     

Enhanced repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks in S phase

Hela cells synchronized in G1 and S phases of the cell cycle were transfected with pEGFP crosslinked with trioxsalen. Twelve hours later the number of fluorescent cells was determined by fluorescent microscopy. Cells in S phase have repaired 0.2-0.3 ICL/kb over the 12h period, while cells in G1 phase repaired interstrand crosslinks much more poorly. The crosslinked plasmids were efficiently recruited to the nuclear matrix both in G1 phase and S-phase, which showed that the poor repair of G1 cells was a result of a lack of DNA replication rather than of a lack of matrix attachment.     

Mechanism and regulation of incisions during DNA interstrand cross-link repair

A critical step in DNA interstrand cross-link repair is the programmed collapse of replication forks that have stalled at an ICL. This event is regulated by the Fanconi anemia pathway, which suppresses bone marrow failure and cancer. In this perspective, we focus on the structure of forks that have stalled at ICLs, how these structures might be incised by endonucleases, and how incision is regulated by the Fanconi anemia pathway.