Uch2/Uch37 is the major deubiquitinating enzyme associated with the 26S proteasome in fission yeast

Conjugation of proteins to ubiquitin plays a central role for a number of cellular processes including endocytosis, DNA repair and degradation by the 26S proteasome. However, ubiquitination is reversible as a number of deubiquitinating enzymes mediate the disassembly of ubiquitin-protein conjugates. Some deubiquitinating enzymes are associated with the 26S proteasome contributing to and regulating the particle's activity. Here, we characterise fission yeast Uch2 and Ubp6, two proteasome associated deubiquitinating enzymes. The human orthologues of these enzymes are known as Uch37 and Usp14, respectively. We report that the subunit Uch2/Uch37 is the major deubiquitinating enzyme associated with the fission yeast 26S proteasome. In contrast, the activity of Ubp6 appears to play a more regulatory and/or structural role involving the proteasome subunits Mts1/Rpn9, Mts2/Rpt2 and Mts3/Rpn12, as Ubp6 becomes essential when activity of these subunits is compromised by conditional mutations. Finally, when the genes encoding Uch2/Uch37 and Ubp6 are disrupted, the cells are viable without showing obvious signs of impaired ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, indicating that other deubiquitinating enzymes may remedy for the redundancy of these enzymes.     

Regulators of the proteasome pathway, Uch37 and Rpn13, play distinct roles in mouse development

Rpn13 is a novel mammalian proteasomal receptor that has recently been identified as an amplification target in ovarian cancer. It can interact with ubiquitin and activate the deubiquitinating enzyme Uch37 at the 26S proteasome. Since neither Rpn13 nor Uch37 is an integral proteasomal subunit, we explored whether either protein is essential for mammalian development and survival. Deletion of Uch37 resulted in prenatal lethality in mice associated with severe defect in embryonic brain development. In contrast, the majority of Rpn13-deficient mice survived to adulthood, although they were smaller at birth and fewer in number than wild-type littermates. Absence of Rpn13 produced tissue-specific effects on proteasomal function: increased proteasome activity in adrenal gland and lymphoid organs, and decreased activity in testes and brain. Adult Rpn13(-/-) mice reached normal body weight but had increased body fat content and were infertile due to defective gametogenesis. Additionally, Rpn13(-/-) mice showed increased T-cell numbers, resembling growth hormone-mediated effects. Indeed, serum growth hormone and follicular stimulating hormone levels were significantly increased in Rpn13(-/-) mice, while growth hormone receptor expression was reduced in the testes. In conclusion, this is the first report characterizing the physiological roles of Uch37 and Rpn13 in murine development and implicating a non-ATPase proteasomal protein, Rpn13, in the process of gametogenesis.     

Ubiquitinated Proteins Activate the Proteasomal ATPases by Binding to Usp14 or Uch37 Homologs

Degradation of ubiquitinated proteins by 26 S proteasomes requires ATP hydrolysis, but it is unclear how the proteasomal ATPases are regulated and how proteolysis, substrate deubiquitination, degradation, and ATP hydrolysis are coordinated. Polyubiquitinated proteins were shown to stimulate ATP hydrolysis by purified proteasomes, but only if the proteins contain a loosely folded domain. If they were not ubiquitinated, such proteins did not increase ATPase activity. However, they did so upon addition of ubiquitin aldehyde, which mimics the ubiquitin chain and binds to 26 S-associated deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs): in yeast to Ubp6, which is essential for the ATPase activation, and in mammalian 26 S to the Ubp6 homolog, Usp14, and Uch37. Occupancy of either DUB by a ubiquitin conjugate leads to ATPase stimulation, thereby coupling deubiquitination and ATP hydrolysis. Thus, ubiquitinated loosely folded proteins, after becoming bound to the 26 S, interact with Ubp6/Usp14 or Uch37 to activate ATP hydrolysis and enhance their own destruction.     

Proteasome recruitment and activation of the Uch37 deubiquitinating enzyme by Adrm1

Uch37 is one of the three principal deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), and the only ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase (UCH)-family protease, that is associated with mammalian proteasomes. We show that Uch37 is responsible for the ubiquitin isopeptidase activity in the PA700 (19S) proteasome regulatory complex. PA700 isopeptidase disassembles Lys 48-linked polyubiquitin specifically from the distal end of the chain, a property that may be used to clear poorly ubiquitinated or unproductively bound substrates from the proteasome. To better understand Uch37 function and the mechanism responsible for its specificity, we investigated how Uch37 is recruited to proteasomes. Uch37 binds through Adrm1, a previously unrecognized orthologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rpn13p, which in turn is bound to the S1 (also known as Rpn2) subunit of the 19S complex. Adrm1 (human Rpn13, hRpn13) binds the carboxy-terminal tail of Uch37, a region that is distinct from the UCH catalytic domain, which we show inhibits Uch37 activity. Following binding, Adrm1 relieves Uch37 autoinhibition, accelerating the hydrolysis of ubiquitin-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (ubiquitin-AMC). However, neither Uch37 alone nor the Uch37-Adrm1 or Uch37-Adrm1-S1 complexes can hydrolyse di-ubiquitin efficiently; rather, incorporation into the 19S complex is required to enable processing of polyubiquitin chains.     

hRpn13/ADRM1/GP110 is a novel proteasome subunit that binds the deubiquitinating enzyme, UCH37

The 26S proteasome catalyzes the degradation of most proteins in mammalian cells. To better define its composition and associated regulatory proteins, we developed affinity methods to rapidly purify 26S proteasomes from mammalian cells. By this approach, we discovered a novel 46-kDa (407 residues) subunit of its 19S regulatory complex (previously termed ADRM1 or GP110). As its N-terminal half can be incorporated into the 26S proteasome and is homologous to Rpn13, a 156-residue subunit of the 19S complex in budding yeast, we renamed it human Rpn13 (hRpn13). The C-terminal half of hRpn13 binds directly to the proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme, UCH37, and enhances its isopeptidase activity. Knockdown of hRpn13 in 293T cells increases the cellular levels of ubiquitin conjugates and decreases the degradation of short-lived proteins. Surprisingly, an overproduction of hRpn13 also reduced their degradation. Furthermore, transfection of the C-terminal half of hRpn13 slows proteolysis and induces cell death, probably by acting as a dominant-negative form. Thus in human 26S proteasomes, hRpn13 appears to be important for the binding of UCH37 to the 19S complex and for efficient proteolysis.     

A novel proteasome interacting protein recruits the deubiquitinating enzyme UCH37 to 26S proteasomes

The 26S proteasome is a multisubunit protease responsible for regulated proteolysis in eukaryotic cells. It is composed of one catalytic 20S proteasome and two 19S regulatory particles attached on both ends of 20S proteasomes. Here, we describe the identification of Adrm1 as a novel proteasome interacting protein in mammalian cells. Although the overall sequence of Adrm1 has weak homology with the yeast Rpn13, the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions exhibit significant homology. Therefore, we designated it as hRpn13. hRpn13 interacts with a base subunit Rpn2 via its amino-terminus. The majority of 26S proteasomes contain hRpn13, but a portion of them does not, indicating that hRpn13 is not an integral subunit. Intriguingly, we found that hRpn13 recruits UCH37, a deubiquitinating enzyme known to associate with 26 proteasomes. The carboxyl-terminal regions containing KEKE motifs of both hRpn13 and UCH37 are involved in their physical interaction. Knockdown of hRpn13 caused no obvious proteolytic defect but loss of UCH37 proteins and decrease in deubiquitinating activity of 26S proteasomes. Our results indicate that hRpn13 is essential for the activity of UCH37.     

Functional analysis of Rpn6p, a lid component of the 26 S proteasome, using temperature-sensitive rpn6 mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Rpn6p is a component of the lid of the 26 S proteasome. We isolated and analyzed two temperature-sensitive rpn6 mutants in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both mutants showed defects in protein degradation in vivo. However, the affinity-purified 26 S proteasome of the rpn6 mutants grown at the permissive temperature degraded polyubiquitinated Sic1p efficiently, even at a higher temperature. Interestingly, their enzyme activity was even higher at a higher temperature, indicating that once made mutant proteasomes are stable and have little defect in the proteolytic function. These results suggest that the deficiency in protein degradation observed in vivo is rather due to a defect in the assembly of a holoenzyme at the restrictive temperature. Indeed, both rpn6 mutants grown at the restrictive temperature were defective in assembling the 26 S proteasome. A striking feature of the rpn6 mutants at the restrictive temperature was that there appeared a protein complex composed of only four of the nine lid components, Rpn5p, Rpn8p, Rpn9p, and Rpn11p. Altogether, we conclude that Rpn6p is essential for the integrity/assembly of the lid in the sense that it is necessary for the incorporation of Rpn3p, Rpn7p, Rpn12p, and Sem1p (Rpn15p) into the lid, thereby playing an essential role in the proper function of the 26 S proteasome.     

Autoregulation of the 26S proteasome by in situ ubiquitination

The 26S proteasome degrades ubiquitinated proteins, and proteasomal degradation controls various cellular events. Here we report that the human 26S proteasome is ubiquitinated, by which the ubiquitin receptors Adrm1 and S5a, the ATPase subunit Rpt5, and the deubiquitinating enzyme Uch37 are ubiquitinated in situ by proteasome-associating ubiquitination enzymes. Ubiquitination of these subunits significantly impairs the 26S proteasome''s ability to bind, deubiquitinate, and degrade ubiquitinated proteins. Moreover, ubiquitination of the 26S proteasome can be antagonized by proteasome-residing deubiquitinating enzymes, by the binding of polyubiquitin chains, and by certain cellular stress, indicating that proteasome ubiquitination is dynamic and regulated in cells. We propose that in situ ubiquitination of the 26S proteasome regulates its activity, which could function to adjust proteasomal activity in response to the alteration of cellular ubiquitination levels.     

Mechanism of the Rpn13-induced activation of Uch37

Uch37 is a de-ubiquitinating enzyme that is activated by Rpn13 and involved in the proteasomal degradation of proteins. The full-length Uch37 was shown to exhibit low iso-peptidase activity and is thought to be auto-inhibited. Structural comparisons revealed that within a homodimer of Uch37, each of the catalytic domains was blocking the other’s ubiquitin (Ub)-binding site. This blockage likely prevented Ub from entering the active site of Uch37 and might form the basis of auto-inhibition. To understand the mode of auto-inhibition clearly and shed light on the activation mechanism of Uch37 by Rpn13, we investigated the Uch37-Rpn13 complex using a combination of mutagenesis, biochemical, NMR, and smallangle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. Our results also proved that Uch37 oligomerized in solution and had very low activity against the fluorogenic substrate ubiquitin-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Ub-AMC) of de-ubiquitinating enzymes. Uch37Δ^Hb,Hc,KEKE, a truncation removal of the C-terminal extension region (residues 256–329) converted oligomeric Uch37 into a monomeric form that exhibited iso-peptidase activity comparable to that of a truncation-containing the Uch37 catalytic domain only. Wealso demonstrated that Rpn13C (Rpn13 residues 270–407) could disrupt the oligomerization of Uch37 by sequestering Uch37 and forming a Uch37-Rpn13 complex. Uch37 was activated in such a complex, exhibiting 12-fold-higher activity than Uch37 alone. Time-resolved SAXS (TR-SAXS) and FRET experiments supported the proposed mode of auto-inhibition and the activation mechanism of Uch37 by Rpn13. Rpn13 activated Uch37 by forming a 1:1 stoichiometric complex in which the active site of Uch37 was accessible to Ub.     

Autoubiquitination of the 26S Proteasome on Rpn13 Regulates Breakdown of Ubiquitin Conjugates

Degradation rates of most proteins in eukaryotic cells are determined by their rates of ubiquitination. However, possible regulation of the proteasome's capacity to degrade ubiquitinated proteins has received little attention, although proteasome inhibitors are widely used in research and cancer treatment. We show here that mammalian 26S proteasomes have five associated ubiquitin ligases and that multiple proteasome subunits are ubiquitinated in cells, especially the ubiquitin receptor subunit, Rpn13. When proteolysis is even partially inhibited in cells or purified 26S proteasomes with various inhibitors, Rpn13 becomes extensively and selectively poly‐ubiquitinated by the proteasome‐associated ubiquitin ligase, Ube3c/Hul5. This modification also occurs in cells during heat‐shock or arsenite treatment, when poly‐ubiquitinated proteins accumulate. Rpn13 ubiquitination strongly decreases the proteasome's ability to bind and degrade ubiquitin‐conjugated proteins, but not its activity against peptide substrates. This autoinhibitory mechanism presumably evolved to prevent binding of ubiquitin conjugates to defective or stalled proteasomes, but this modification may also be useful as a biomarker indicating the presence of proteotoxic stress and reduced proteasomal capacity in cells or patients.     

Complementary roles for Rpn11 and Ubp6 in deubiquitination and proteolysis by the proteasome

Substrates destined for degradation by the 26 S proteasome are labeled with polyubiquitin chains. These chains can be dismantled by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). A number of reports have identified different DUBs that can hydrolyze ubiquitin from substrates bound to the proteasome. We measured deubiquitination by both isolated lid and base-core particle subcomplexes, suggesting that at least two different DUBs are intrinsic components of 26 S proteasome holoenzymes. In agreement, we find that highly purified proteasomes contain both Rpn11 and Ubp6, situated within the lid and base subcomplexes, respectively. To study their relative contributions, we purified proteasomes from a mutant in the putative metalloprotease domain of Rpn11 and from a ubp6 null. Interestingly, in both preparations we observed slower deubiquitination rates, suggesting that Rpn11 and Ubp6 serve complementary roles. In accord, the double mutant is synthetically lethal. In contrast to WT proteasomes, proteasomes lacking the lid subcomplex or those purified from the rpn11 mutant are less sensitive to metal chelators, supporting the prediction that Rpn11 may be a metalloprotein. Treatment of proteasomes with ubiquitin-aldehyde or with cysteine modifiers also inhibited deubiquitination but simultaneously promoted degradation of a monoubiquitinated substrate along with the ubiquitin tag. Degradation is unique to 26 S proteasome holoenzymes; we could not detect degradation of a ubiquitinated protein by "lidless" proteasomes, although they were competent for deubiquitination. The fascinating observation that a single ubiquitin moiety is sufficient for targeting an otherwise stable substrate to proteasomes exposes how rapid deubiquitination of poorly ubiquitinated substrates may counteract degradation.     

The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Parkin Is Recruited to the 26 S Proteasome via the Proteasomal Ubiquitin Receptor Rpn13

Mutations in the Park2 gene, encoding the RING-HECT hybrid E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin, are responsible for a common familial form of Parkinson disease. By mono- and polyubiquitinating target proteins, parkin regulates various cellular processes, including degradation of proteins within the 26 S proteasome, a large multimeric degradation machine. In our attempt to further elucidate the function of parkin, we have identified the proteasomal ubiquitin receptor Rpn13/ADRM1 as a parkin-interacting protein. We show that the N-terminal ubiquitin-like (Ubl) domain of parkin binds directly to the pleckstrin-like receptor for ubiquitin (Pru) domain within Rpn13. Using mutational analysis and NMR, we find that Pru binding involves the hydrophobic patch surrounding Ile-44 in the parkin Ubl, a region that is highly conserved between ubiquitin and Ubl domains. However, compared with ubiquitin, the parkin Ubl exhibits greater than 10-fold higher affinity for the Pru domain. Moreover, knockdown of Rpn13 in cells increases parkin levels and abrogates parkin recruitment to the 26 S proteasome, establishing Rpn13 as the major proteasomal receptor for parkin. In contrast, silencing Rpn13 did not impair parkin recruitment to mitochondria or parkin-mediated mitophagy upon carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone-induced mitochondrial depolarization. However, it did delay the clearance of mitochondrial proteins (TIM23, TIM44, and TOM20) and enhance parkin autoubiquitination. Taken together, these findings implicate Rpn13 in linking parkin to the 26 S proteasome and regulating the clearance of mitochondrial proteins during mitophagy.     

VWA domain of S5a restricts the ability to bind ubiquitin and Ubl to the 26S proteasome

The 26S proteasome recognizes a vast number of ubiquitin-dependent degradation signals linked to various substrates. This recognition is mediated mainly by the stoichiometric proteasomal resident ubiquitin receptors S5a and Rpn13, which harbor ubiquitin-binding domains. Regulatory steps in substrate binding, processing, and subsequent downstream proteolytic events by these receptors are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that mammalian S5a is present in proteasome-bound and free states. S5a is required for efficient proteasomal degradation of polyubiquitinated substrates and the recruitment of ubiquitin-like (Ubl) harboring proteins; however, S5a-mediated ubiquitin and Ubl binding occurs only on the proteasome itself. We identify the VWA domain of S5a as a domain that limits ubiquitin and Ubl binding to occur only upon proteasomal association. Multiubiquitination events within the VWA domain can further regulate S5a association. Our results provide a molecular explanation to how ubiquitin and Ubl binding to S5a is restricted to the 26S proteasome.     

Rpn13p and Rpn14p are involved in the recognition of ubiquitinated Gcn4p by the 26S proteasome

The 26S proteasome, composed of the 20S core and 19S regulatory complexes, is important for the turnover of polyubiquitinated proteins. Each subunit of the complex plays a special role in proteolytic function, including substrate recruitment, deubiquitination, and structural contribution. To assess the function of some non-essential subunits in the 26S proteasome, we isolated the 26S proteasome from deletion strains of RPN13 and RPN14 using TAP affinity purification. The stability of Gcn4p and the accumulation of ubiquitinated Gcn4p were significantly increased, but the affinity in the recognition of proteasome was decreased. In addition, the subcomplexes of the isolated 26S proteasomes from deletion mutants were less stable than that of the wild type. Taken together, our findings indicate that Rpn13p and Rpn14p are involved in the efficient recognition of 26S proteasome for the proteolysis of ubiquitinated Gcn4p.     

Association of Rpn10 with high molecular weight complex is enhanced during retinoic acid-induced differentiation of neuroblastoma cells

The ubiquitin-binding Rpn10 protein serves as an ubiquitin receptor that delivers client proteins to the 26S proteasome, the protein degradation complex. It has been suggested that the ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation is critical for neuronal differentiation and for preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Our previous study indicated the importance of Rpn10 in control of cellular differentiation (Shimada et al., Mol Biol Cell 17:5356–5371, 2006), though the functional relevance of Rpn10 in neuronal cell differentiation remains a mystery to be uncovered. In the present study, we have examined the level of Rpn10 in a proteasome-containing high molecular weight (HMW) protein fraction prepared from the mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2a. We here report that the protein level of Rpn10 in HMW fraction from un-differentiated Neuro2a cells was significantly lower than that of other cultured cell lines. We have found that retinoic acid-induced neural differentiation of Neuro2a cells significantly stimulates the incorporation of Rpn10 into HMW fractions, although the amounts of 26S proteasome subunits were not changed. Our findings provide the first evidence that the modulation of Rpn10 is linked to the control of retinoic acid-induced differentiation of neuroblastoma cells.     

The 26S proteasome Rpn10 gene encoding splicing isoforms: evolutional conservation of the genomic organization in vertebrates

Recognition of polyubiquitinated substrates by the 26S proteasome is a key step in the selective degradation of various cellular proteins. The Rpn10 subunit of the 26S proteasome can bind polyubiquitin conjugates in vitro. We have previously reported the unique diversity of Rpn10, which differs from other multiple proteasome subunits, and that the mouse Rpn10 mRNA family is generated from a single gene by developmentally regulated alternative splicing. To determine whether such alternative splicing mechanisms occur in other species, we searched for Rpn10 isoforms in databases and in our original PCR products. Here we report the genomic organization of the Rpn10 gene in lower vertebrates and provide evidence for the competent generation of distinct forms of Rpn10 by alternative splicing through evolution.     

Genetic dissection of the yeast 26S proteasome: cell cycle defects caused by the Deltarpn9 mutation

Rpn9 is one of the subunits of the regulatory particle of the yeast 26S proteasome and is needed for stability or efficient assembly of the 26S proteasome. As anticipated from the fact that the rpn9 disruptant grew at 25 degrees C but arrested in G2/M phase at 37 degrees C, the CDK inhibitor Sic1p was found to be degraded at the G1/S boundary in the Deltarpn9 cells. The degradation of the anaphase inhibitor Pds1p was delayed in the Deltarpn9 cells. Clb2p in M phase, as well as that ectopically expressed in G1 and S phases, was degraded more slowly in the Deltarpn9 cells than in the wild type cells, indicating that the 26S proteasome lacking Rpn9 uses Sic1p as a better substrate than Pds1p and Clb2p. These results, in addition to the fact that multiubiquitinated proteins were accumulated in the Deltarpn9 cells incubated at 37 degrees C, strongly suggest that Rpn9 is involved in the proteolysis of a subset of the substrates degraded by the 26S proteasome. The Deltarpn9 Deltapds1 double mutant was unable to elongate spindle at a restrictive temperature, suggesting that some protein(s) other than Scc1 (cohesin) should be degraded during progression of anaphase.     

A proteasome assembly defect in rpn3 mutants is associated with Rpn11 instability and increased sensitivity to stress

Rpn11 is a proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme that is essential for viability. Recent genetic studies showed that Rpn11 is functionally linked to Rpn10, a major multiubiquitin chain binding receptor in the proteasome. Mutations in Rpn11 and Rpn10 can reduce the level and/or stability of proteasomes, indicating that both proteins influence its structural integrity. To characterize the properties of Rpn11, we examined its interactions with other subunits in the 19S regulatory particle and detected strong binding to Rpn3. Two previously described rpn3 mutants are sensitive to protein translation inhibitors and an amino acid analog. These mutants also display a mitochondrial defect. The abundance of intact proteasomes was significantly reduced in rpn3 mutants, as revealed by strongly reduced binding between 20S catalytic with 19S regulatory particles. Proteasome interaction with the shuttle factor Rad23 was similarly reduced. Consequently, higher levels of multiUb proteins were associated with Rad23, and proteolytic substrates were stabilized. The availability of Rpn11 is important for maintaining adequate levels of intact proteasomes, as its depletion caused growth and proteolytic defects in rpn3. These studies suggest that Rpn11 is stabilized following its incorporation into proteasomes. The instability of Rpn11 and the defects of rpn3 mutants are apparently caused by a failure to recruit Rpn11 into mature proteasomes.