FAT10, a ubiquitin-independent signal for proteasomal degradation

FAT10 is a small ubiquitin-like modifier that is encoded in the major histocompatibility complex and is synergistically inducible by tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon. It is composed of two ubiquitin-like domains and possesses a free C-terminal diglycine motif that is required for the formation of FAT10 conjugates. Here we show that unconjugated FAT10 and a FAT10 conjugate were rapidly degraded by the proteasome at a similar rate. Fusion of FAT10 to the N terminus of very long-lived proteins enhanced their degradation rate as potently as fusion with ubiquitin did. FAT10-green fluorescent protein fusion proteins were not cleaved but entirely degraded, suggesting that FAT10-specific deconjugating enzymes were not present in the analyzed cell lines. Interestingly, the prevention of ubiquitylation of FAT10 by mutation of all lysines or by expression in ubiquitylation-deficient cells did not affect FAT10 degradation. Thus, conjugation with FAT10 is an alternative and ubiquitin-independent targeting mechanism for degradation by the proteasome, which, in contrast to polyubiquitylation, is cytokine inducible and irreversible.     

E1-L2 activates both ubiquitin and FAT10

Ubiquitination is catalyzed by a cascade of enzymes consisting of E1, E2, and E3. We report here the identification of an E1-like protein, termed E1-L2, that activates both ubiquitin and another ubiquitin-like protein, FAT10. Interestingly, E1-L2 can transfer ubiquitin to Ubc5 and Ubc13, but not Ubc3 and E2-25K, suggesting that E1-L2 may be specialized in a subset of ubiquitination reactions. E1-L2 forms a thioester with FAT10 in vitro, and this reaction requires the active-site cysteine of E1-L2 and the C-terminal diglycine motif of FAT10. Furthermore, endogenous FAT10 forms a thioester with E1-L2 in cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), which induce FAT10 expression. Silencing of E1-L2 expression by RNAi blocks the formation of FAT10 conjugates in cells. Deletion of E1-L2 in mice caused embryonic lethality, suggesting that E1-L2 plays an important role in embryogenesis.     

FAT10/diubiquitin-like protein-deficient mice exhibit minimal phenotypic differences

The FAT10 gene encodes a diubiquitin-like protein containing two tandem head-to-tail ubiquitin-like domains. There is a high degree of similarity between murine and human FAT10 sequences at both the mRNA and protein levels. In various cell lines, FAT10 expression was shown to be induced by gamma interferon or by tumor necrosis factor alpha. In addition, FAT10 expression was found to be up-regulated in some Epstein-Barr virus-infected B-cell lines, in activated dendritic cells, and in several epithelial tumors. However, forced expression of FAT10 in cultured cells was also found to produce apoptotic cell death. Overall, these findings suggest that FAT10 may modulate cellular growth or cellular viability. Here we describe the steps to generate, by genetic targeting, a FAT10 gene knockout mouse model. The FAT10 knockout homozygous mice are viable and fertile. No gross lesions or obvious histological differences were found in these mutated mice. Examination of lymphocyte populations from spleen, thymus, and bone marrow did not reveal any abnormalities. However, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the lymphocytes of FAT10 knockout mice were, on average, more prone to spontaneous apoptotic death. Physiologically, these mice demonstrated a high level of sensitivity toward endotoxin challenge. These findings indicate that FAT10 may function as a survival factor.     

NEDD8 ultimate buster-1L interacts with the ubiquitin-like protein FAT10 and accelerates its degradation

FAT10 is an interferon-gamma-inducible ubiquitin-like protein that consists of two ubiquitin-like domains. FAT10 bears a diglycine motif at its C terminus that can form isopeptide bonds to so far unidentified target proteins. Recently we found that FAT10 and its conjugates are rapidly degraded by the proteasome and that the N-terminal fusion of FAT10 to a long lived protein markedly reduces its half-life. FAT10 may hence direct target proteins to the proteasome for degradation. In this study we report a new interaction partner of FAT10 that may link FAT10 to the proteasome. A yeast two-hybrid screen identified NEDD8 ultimate buster-1L (NUB1L) as a non-covalent binding partner of FAT10, and this interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down experiments. NUB1L is also an interferon-inducible protein that has been reported to interact with the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8, thus leading to accelerated NEDD8 degradation. Here we show that NUB1L binds to FAT10 much stronger than to NEDD8 and that NEDD8 cannot compete with FAT10 for NUB1L binding. The interaction of FAT10 and NUB1L is specific as green fluorescent fusion proteins containing ubiquitin or SUMO-1 do not bind to NUB1L. The coexpression of NUB1L enhanced the degradation rate of FAT10 8-fold, whereas NEDD8 degradation was only accelerated 2-fold. Because NUB1 was shown to bind to the proteasome subunit RPN10 in vitro and to be contained in 26 S proteasome preparations, it may function as a linker that targets FAT10 for degradation by the proteasome.     

The small heat shock protein alpha B-crystallin is a novel inhibitor of TRAIL-induced apoptosis that suppresses the activation of caspase-3

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor alpha family of cytokines that preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed cells, making it a promising cancer therapy. However, many neoplasms are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by mechanisms that are poorly understood. We demonstrate that the expression of the small heat shock protein alpha B-crystallin (but not other heat shock proteins or apoptosis-regulating proteins) correlates with TRAIL resistance in a panel of human cancer cell lines. Stable expression of wild-type alpha B-crystallin, but not a pseudophosphorylation mutant impaired in its assembly and chaperone function, protects cancer cells from TRAIL-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, selective inhibition of alpha B-crystallin expression by RNA interference sensitizes cancer cells to TRAIL. In addition, wild-type alpha B-crystallin promotes xenograft tumor growth and inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis in vivo in nude mice, whereas a pseudophosphorylation alpha B-crystallin mutant impaired in its anti-apoptotic function inhibits xenograft tumor growth. Collectively, these findings indicate that alpha B-crystallin is a novel regulator of TRAIL-induced apoptosis and tumor growth. Moreover, these results demonstrate that targeted inhibition of alpha B-crystallin promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis, thereby suggesting a novel strategy to overcome TRAIL resistance in cancer.     

A novel interferon regulatory factor (IRF), IRF-10, has a unique role in immune defense and is induced by the v-Rel oncoprotein

The cloning and functional characterization of a novel interferon regulatory factor (IRF), IRF-10, are described. IRF-10 is most closely related to IRF-4 but differs in both its constitutive and inducible expression. The expression of IRF-10 is inducible by interferons (IFNs) and by concanavalin A. In contrast to that of other IRFs, the inducible expression of IRF-10 is characterized by delayed kinetics and requires protein synthesis, suggesting a unique role in the later stages of an antiviral defense. Accordingly, IRF-10 is involved in the upregulation of two primary IFN-gamma target genes (major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class I and guanylate-binding protein) and interferes with the induction of the type I IFN target gene for 2',5'-oligo(A) synthetase. IRF-10 binds the interferon-stimulated response element site of the MHC class I promoter. In contrast to that of IRF-1, which has some of the same functional characteristics, the expression of IRF-10 is not cytotoxic for fibroblasts or B cells. The expression of IRF-10 is induced by the oncogene v-rel, the proto-oncogene c-rel, and IRF-4 in a tissue-specific manner. Moreover, v-Rel and IRF-4 synergistically cooperate in the induction of IRF-10 in fibroblasts. The level of IRF-10 induction in lymphoid cell lines by Rel proteins correlates with Rel transformation potential. These results suggest that IRF-10 plays a role in the late stages of an immune defense by regulating the expression some of the IFN-gamma target genes in the absence of a cytotoxic effect. Furthermore, IRF-10 expression is regulated, at least in part, by members of the Rel/NF-kappa B and IRF families.     

The UBA domains of NUB1L are required for binding but not for accelerated degradation of the ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10

Proteins selected for degradation are labeled with multiple molecules of ubiquitin and are subsequently cleaved by the 26 S proteasome. A family of proteins containing at least one ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain and one ubiquitin-like (UBL) domain have been shown to act as soluble ubiquitin receptors of the 26 S proteasome and introduce a new level of specificity into the degradation system. They bind ubiquitylated proteins via their UBA domains and the 26 S proteasome via their UBL domain and facilitate the contact between substrate and protease. NEDD8 ultimate buster-1 long (NUB1L) belongs to this class of proteins and contains one UBL and three UBA domains. We recently reported that NUB1L interacts with the ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 and accelerates its degradation and that of its conjugates. Here we show that a deletion mutant of NUB1L lacking the UBL domain is still able to bind FAT10 but not the proteasome and no longer accelerates FAT10 degradation. A version of NUB1L lacking all three UBA domains, on the other hand, looses the ability to bind FAT10 but is still able to interact with the proteasome and accelerates the degradation of FAT10. The degradation of a FAT10 mutant containing only the C-terminal UBL domain is also still accelerated by NUB1L, even though the two proteins do not interact. In addition, we show that FAT10 and either one of its UBL domains alone can interact directly with the 26 S proteasome. We propose that NUB1L not only acts as a linker between the 26 S proteasome and ubiquitin-like proteins, but also as a facilitator of proteasomal degradation.     

Human cytomegalovirus IE1 and IE2 proteins block apoptosis.

Human cytomegalovirus-infected fibroblasts are resistant to the induction of apoptosis by superinfection with a mutant adenovirus unable to produce the viral E1B 19-kDa protein that normally causes an E1A protein-mediated apoptotic response. Two cytomegalovirus gene products that block apoptosis were identified. The IE1 and IE2 proteins each inhibit the induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor alpha or by the E1B 19-kDa-protein-deficient adenovirus but not by irradiation with UV light. Our results suggest a new physiological role for the IE1 and IE2 proteins in the human cytomegalovirus replication cycle.     

A glycosylation-deficient endothelial cell mutant with modified responses to transforming growth factor-beta and other growth inhibitory cytokines: evidence for multiple growth inhibitory signal transduction pathways.

An endothelial cell line (M40) resistant to growth inhibition by transforming growth factor-beta type 1 (TGF beta 1) was isolated by chemical mutagenesis and growth in the presence of TGF beta 1. Like normal endothelial cells, this mutant is characterized by high expression of type II TGF beta receptor and low expression of type I TGF beta receptor. However, the mutant cells display a type II TGF beta receptor of reduced molecular weight as a result of a general defect in N-glycosylation of proteins. The alteration does not impair TGF beta 1 binding to cell surface receptors or the ability of TGF beta 1 to induce fibronectin or plasminogen activator inhibitor-type I production. M40 cells were also resistant to growth inhibition by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) but were inhibited by interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) and heparin. These results imply that TGF beta 1, TNF alpha, and IL-1 alpha act through signal transducing pathways that are separate from pathways for IFN gamma and heparin. Basic fibroblast growth factor was still mitogenic for M40, further suggesting that TGF beta 1, TNF alpha, and IL-1 alpha act by direct inhibition of cell growth rather than by interfering with growth stimulatory pathways.     

Survival and proliferation of cells expressing caspase-uncleavable Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in response to death-inducing DNA damage by an alkylating agent

To determine whether caspase-3-induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a DNA damage-sensitive enzyme, alters the balance between survival and death of the cells following DNA damage, we created stable cell lines that express either caspase-uncleavable mutant or wild type PARP in the background of PARP (-/-) fibroblasts. The survival and apoptotic responses of these cells were compared after exposure to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), a DNA-damaging agent that activates PARP, or to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which causes apoptosis without initial DNA damage. In response to MNNG, the cells with caspase-uncleavable PARP were very resistant to loss of viability or induction of apoptosis. Most significantly, approximately 25% of these cells survived and retained clonogenicity at a level of DNA damage that eliminated the cells with wild type PARP or PARP (-/-) cells. Expression of caspase-uncleavable PARP could not protect the cells from death induced by tumor necrosis factor, although there was a slower progression of apoptotic events in these cells. Therefore, one of the functions for cleavage of PARP during apoptosis induced by alkylating agents is to prevent survival of the extensively damaged cells.     

The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 in cancer development

During the last years it has emerged that the ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is directly involved in cancer development. FAT10 expression is highly up-regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α in all cell types and tissues and it was also found to be up-regulated in many cancer types such as glioma, colorectal, liver or gastric cancer. While pro-inflammatory cytokines within the tumor microenvironment probably contribute to FAT10 overexpression, an increasing body of evidence argues that pro-malignant capacities of FAT10 itself largely underlie its broad and intense overexpression in tumor tissues. FAT10 thereby regulates pathways involved in cancer development such as the NF-κB- or Wnt-signaling. Moreover, FAT10 directly interacts with and influences downstream targets such as MAD2, p53 or β-catenin, leading to enhanced survival, proliferation, invasion and metastasis formation of cancer cells but also of non-malignant cells. In this review we will provide an overview of the regulation of FAT10 expression as well as its function in carcinogenesis.     

Interferon-gamma, interferon-alpha/beta, and tumor necrosis factor differentially affect major histocompatibility complex class I expression in murine leukemia virus-induced tumor cell lines

Tumor cell lines induced by Gross murine leukemia virus were examined for cell-surface major histocompatibility complex class I expression. Three of five cell lines constitutively express H-2K and H-2D class I protein. Culturing these cells with interferon (IFN)-gamma, IFN-alpha/beta, or tumor necrosis factor increases both K and D expression in these cell lines. Two of five tumor cell lines express no class I proteins by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, specific immunoprecipitation, and specific hybridization in Northern analysis. Treatment with IFN-gamma induces D, but not K protein expression in one of these cell lines. IFN-alpha/beta and tumor necrosis factor induce neither D nor K expression in this cell line. Thus, these two cytokines appear to have different mechanisms of action than IFN-gamma for altering class I expression. The other class I-negative tumor cell line does not express either K or D proteins under any conditions tested. All five cell lines express beta 2-microglobulin; this expression is increased by IFN-gamma treatment even in cell lines which do not express class I heavy chain. The results of this study demonstrate that 1) different tumor cell lines demonstrate variations in class I gene regulation, and 2) differences in regulation between class I genes may occur within a single cell line.