The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, UbcM2, is restricted to monoubiquitylation by a two-fold mechanism that involves backside residues of E2 and Lys48 of ubiquitin

B-box1 Domain of MID1 Interacts with the Ube2D1 E2 Enzyme Differently Than RING E3 Ligases

The MID1 TRIM protein is important for ventral midline development in vertebrates, and mutations of its B-box1 domain result in several birth defects. The B-box1 domain of the human MID1 protein binds two zinc atoms and adopt a similar ββα-RING structure. This domain is required for the efficient ubiquitination of protein phosphatase 2A, alpha4, and fused kinase. Considering the structural similarity, the MID1 B-box1 domain exhibits mono-autoubiquitination activity, in contrast to poly-autoubiquitination observed for RING E3 ligases. To understand its mechanism of action, the interaction of the B-box1 domain with Ube2D1 (UbcH5a, E2), a preferred E2 ligase, is investigated. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, the MID1 RING and B-box1 domains were observed to have similar binding affinities with the Ube2D1 protein. However, NMR ¹⁵N-¹H Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence titration, ¹⁵N relaxation data, and High Ambiguity Driven protein-protein DOCKing (HADDOCK) calculations show the B-box1 domain binding on a surface distinct from where RING domains bind. The novel binding interaction shows the B-box1 domain partially overlapping the noncovalent Ube2D1 and a ubiquitin binding site that is necessary for poly-autoubiquitination activity. The B-box1 domain also displaces the ubiquitin from the Ube2D1 protein. These studies reveal a novel binding interaction between the zinc-binding ββα-fold B-box1 domain and the Ube2D enzyme family and that this difference in binding, compared to RING E3 ligases, provides a rationale for its auto-monoubiquitination E3 ligase activity.

UBE2E3 regulates cellular senescence and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs during aging

Background

Osteoporosis has gradually become a public health problem in the world. However, the exact molecular mechanism of osteoporosis still remains unclear. Senescence and osteogenic differentiation inhibition of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs ) are supposed to play an important part in osteoporosis.

Methods

We used two gene expression profiles (GSE35956 and GSE35958) associated with osteoporosis and selected the promising gene Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 E3 (UBE2E3). We then verified its function and mechanism by in vitro experiments.

Results

UBE2E3 was highly expressed in the bone marrow and positively associated with osteogenesis related genes. Besides, UBE2E3 expression reduced in old BMSCs compared with that in young BMSCs. In in vitro experiments, knockdown of UBE2E3 accelerated cellular senescence and inhibited osteogenic differentiation of young BMSCs. On the other hand, overexpression of UBE2E3 attenuated cellular senescence as well as enhanced osteogenic differentiation of old BMSCs. Mechanistically, UBE2E3 might regulate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and control its function, thus affecting the senescence and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Conclusion

UBE2E3 may be potentially involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis by regulating cellular senescence and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

The Role of NRF2/KEAP1 Signaling Pathway in Cancer Metabolism

The nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2, also called Nfe2l2) and its cytoplasmic repressor, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), are major regulators of redox homeostasis controlling a multiple of genes for detoxification and cytoprotective enzymes. The NRF2/KEAP1 pathway is a fundamental signaling cascade responsible for the resistance of metabolic, oxidative stress, inflammation, and anticancer effects. Interestingly, a recent accumulation of evidence has indicated that NRF2 exhibits an aberrant activation in cancer. Evidence has shown that the NRF2/KEAP1 signaling pathway is associated with the proliferation of cancer cells and tumerigenesis through metabolic reprogramming. In this review, we provide an overview of the regulatory molecular mechanism of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway against metabolic reprogramming in cancer, suggesting that the regulation of NRF2/KEAP1 axis might approach as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancers.

The Role of Conformational Dynamics in the Recognition and Regulation of Ubiquitination

The ubiquitination pathway is central to many cell signaling and regulatory events. One of the intriguing aspects of the pathway is the combinatorial sophistication of substrate recognition and ubiquitin chain building determinations. The abundant structural and biological data portray several characteristic protein folds among E2 and E3 proteins, and the understanding of the combinatorial complexity that enables interaction with much of the human proteome is a major goal to developing targeted and selective manipulation of the pathway. With the commonality of some folds, there are likely other aspects that can provide differentiation and recognition. These aspects involve allosteric effects and conformational dynamics that can direct recognition and chain building processes. In this review, we will describe the current state of the knowledge for conformational dynamics across a wide timescale, address the limitations of present approaches, and illustrate the potential to make new advances in connecting dynamics with ubiquitination regulation.

E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2L6 promotes Senecavirus A proliferation by stabilizing the viral RNA polymerase

Senecavirus A (SVA), discovered in 2002, is an emerging pathogen of swine that has since been reported in numerous pork producing countries. To date, the mechanism of SVA replication remains poorly understood. In this study, utilizing iTRAQ analysis we found that UBE2L6, an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, is up-regulated in SVA-infected BHK-21 cells, and that its overexpression promotes SVA replication. We determined that UBE2L6 interacts with, and ubiquitinates the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SVA, (the 3D protein) and this ubiquitination serves to inhibit the degradation of 3D. UBE2L6-mediated ubiquitination of 3D requires a cystine at residue 86 in UBE2L6, and lysines at residues 169 and 321 in 3D. Virus with mutations in 3D (rK169R and rK321R) exhibited significantly decreased replication compared to wild type SVA and the repaired viruses, rK169R(R) and rK321R(R). These data indicate that UBE2L6, the enzyme, targets the 3D polymerase, the substrate, during SVA infection to facilitate replication.

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a newly emerging pathogen causing swine idiopathic vesicular disease and epidemic transient neonatal losses. Infections have been reported in many pork producing countries, yet the mechanism of SVA replication remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that UBE2L6, an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, is up-regulated in SVA-infected BHK-21 cells. The viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) 3D is ubiquitinated by UBE2L6, and the lysines at residues 169 and 321 of 3D are the required ubiquitination sites. The level of replication of recombinant viruses harboring ubiquitination-deficient 3D was significantly decreased compared to parental SVA. Our data demonstrate that UBE2L6 ubiquitinates SVA 3D, thereby facilitating SVA infection. These results may make it possible to identify novel targets for disease treatment.

Structural and Functional Analysis of Ubiquitin-based Inhibitors That Target the Backsides of E2 Enzymes

Ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzymes are central to the ubiquitination cascade and have been implicated in cancer and other diseases. Despite strong interest in developing specific E2 inhibitors, the shallow and exposed active site has proven recalcitrant to targeting with reversible small-molecule inhibitors. Here, we used phage display to generate highly potent and selective ubiquitin variants (UbVs) that target the E2 backside, which is located opposite to the active site. A UbV targeting Ube2D1 did not affect charging but greatly attenuated chain elongation. Likewise, a UbV targeting the E2 variant Ube2V1 did not interfere with the charging of its partner E2 enzyme but inhibited formation of diubiquitin. In contrast, a UbV that bound to the backside of Ube2G1 impeded the generation of thioester-linked ubiquitin to the active site cysteine of Ube2G1 by the E1 enzyme. Crystal structures of UbVs in complex with three E2 proteins revealed distinctive molecular interactions in each case, but they also highlighted a common backside pocket that the UbVs used for enhanced affinity and specificity. These findings validate the E2 backside as a target for inhibition and provide structural insights to aid inhibitor design and screening efforts.

Structural basis of generic versus specific E2-RING E3 interactions in protein ubiquitination

Protein ubiquitination is a fundamental regulatory component in eukaryotic cell biology, where a cascade of ubiquitin activating (E1), conjugating (E2), and ligating (E3) enzymes assemble distinct ubiquitin signals on target proteins. E2s specify the type of ubiquitin signal generated, while E3s associate with the E2~Ub conjugate and select the substrate for ubiquitination. Thus, producing the right ubiquitin signal on the right target requires the right E2-E3 pair. The question of how over 600 E3s evolved to discriminate between 38 structurally related E2s has therefore been an area of intensive research, and with over 50 E2-E3 complex structures generated to date, the answer is beginning to emerge. The following review discusses the structural basis of generic E2-RING E3 interactions, contrasted with emerging themes that reveal how specificity can be achieved.

The DNA repair protein SHPRH is a nucleosome-stimulated ATPase and a nucleosome-E3 ubiquitin ligase

Background

Maintenance of genome integrity during DNA replication is crucial to the perpetuation of all organisms. In eukaryotes, the bypass of DNA lesions by the replication machinery prevents prolonged stalling of the replication fork, which could otherwise lead to greater damages such as gross chromosomal rearrangements. Bypassing DNA lesions and subsequent repair are accomplished by the activation of DNA damage tolerance pathways such as the template switching (TS) pathway. In yeast, the RAD5 (Radiation-sensitive 5) protein plays a crucial role in initiating the TS pathway by catalyzing the polyubiquitination of PCNA (Proliferation Cell Nuclear Antigen). Likewise, one of the mammalian RAD5-homologs, SHPRH (SNF2, histone linker, PHD, RING, helicase) mediates PCNA polyubiquitination. To date, the study of SHPRH enzymatic functions has been limited to this modification. It is therefore unclear how SHPRH carries out its function in DNA repair. Moreover, how this protein regulates gene transcription at the enzymatic level is also unknown.

Results

Given that SHPRH harbors domains found in chromatin remodeling proteins, we investigated its biochemical properties in the presence of nucleosomal substrates. We find that SHPRH binds equally well to double-stranded (ds) DNA and to nucleosome core particles, however, like ISWI and CHD-family remodelers, SHPRH shows a strong preference for nucleosomes presenting extranucleosomal DNA. Moreover, nucleosomes but not dsDNA strongly stimulate the ATPase activity of SHPRH. Intriguingly, unlike typically observed with SNF2-family enzymes, ATPase activity does not translate into conventional nucleosome remodeling, under standard assay conditions. To test whether SHPRH can act as a ubiquitin E3 ligase for nucleosomes, we performed a screen using 26 E2-conjugating enzymes. We uncover that SHPRH is a potent nucleosome E3-ubiquitin-ligase that can function with at least 7 different E2s. Mass spectrometry analyses of products generated in the presence of the UBE2D1-conjugating enzyme reveal that SHPRH can catalyze the formation of polyubiquitin linkages that are either branched or associated with the recruitment of DNA repair factors, as well as linkages involved in proteasomal degradation.

Conclusions

We propose that, in addition to polyubiquitinating PCNA, SHPRH promotes DNA repair or transcriptional regulation in part through chromatin ubiquitination. Our study sets a biochemical framework for studying other RAD5- and RAD16-related protein functions through the ubiquitination of nucleosomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13072-019-0294-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cbl interacts with multiple E2s in vitro and in cells

Many receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs, such as EGFR, MET) are negatively regulated by ubiquitination and degradation mediated by Cbl proteins, a family of RING finger (RF) ubiquitin ligases (E3s). Loss of Cbl protein function is associated with malignant transformation driven by increased RTK activity. RF E3s, such as the Cbl proteins, interact with a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) to confer specificity to the ubiquitination process and direct the transfer of ubiquitin from the E2 to one or more lysines on the target proteins. Using in vitro E3 assays and yeast two-hybrid screens, we found that Ube2d, Ube2e families, Ube2n/2v1, and Ube2w catalyze autoubiquitination of the Cbl protein and Ube2d2, Ube2e1, and Ube 2n/2v1 catalyze Cbl-mediated substrate ubiquitination of the EGFR and SYK. Phosphorylation of the Cbl protein by by Src resulted in increased E3 activity compared to unphosphorylated cbl or Cbl containing a phosphomimetic Y371E mutation. Ubiquitin chain formation depended on the E2 tested with Cbl with Ube2d2 forming both K48 and K63 linked chains, Ube2n/2v1 forming only K63 linked chains, and Ube2w inducing monoubiquitination. In cells, the Ube2d family, Ube2e family, and Ube2n/2v1 contributed to EGFR ubiquitination. Our data suggest that multiple E2s can interact with Cbl and modulate its E3 activity in vitro and in cells.

UBE2E1 Is Preferentially Expressed in the Cytoplasm of Slow-Twitch Fibers and Protects Skeletal Muscles from Exacerbated Atrophy upon Dexamethasone Treatment

Skeletal muscle mass is reduced during many diseases or physiological situations (disuse, aging), which results in decreased strength and increased mortality. Muscle mass is mainly controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), involving hundreds of ubiquitinating enzymes (E2s and E3s) that target their dedicated substrates for subsequent degradation. We recently demonstrated that MuRF1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase known to bind to sarcomeric proteins (telethonin, α-actin, myosins) during catabolic situations, interacts with 5 different E2 enzymes and that these E2-MuRF1 couples are able to target telethonin, a small sarcomeric protein, for degradation. Amongst the E2s interacting with MuRF1, E2E1 was peculiar as the presence of the substrate was necessary for optimal MuRF1-E2E1 interaction. In this work, we focused on the putative role of E2E1 during skeletal muscle atrophy. We found that E2E1 expression was restricted to type I and type IIA muscle fibers and was not detectable in type IIB fibers. This strongly suggests that E2E1 targets are fiber-specific and may be strongly linked to the contractile and metabolic properties of the skeletal muscle. However, E2E1 knockdown was not sufficient for preserving the protein content in C2C12 myotubes subjected to a catabolic state (dexamethasone treatment), suggesting that E2E1 is not involved in the development of muscle atrophy. By contrast, E2E1 knockdown aggravated the atrophying process in both catabolic C2C12 myotubes and the Tibialis anterior muscle of mice, suggesting that E2E1 has a protective effect on muscle mass.

Loss of the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UBE2E3 induces cellular senescence

Cellular senescence plays essential roles in tissue homeostasis as well as a host of diseases ranging from cancers to age-related neurodegeneration. Various molecular pathways can induce senescence and these different pathways dictate the phenotypic and metabolic changes that accompany the transition to, and maintenance of, the senescence state. Here, we describe a novel senescence phenotype induced by depletion of UBE2E3, a highly-conserved, metazoan ubiquitin conjugating enzyme. Cells depleted of UBE2E3 become senescent in the absence of overt DNA damage and have a distinct senescence-associated secretory phenotype, increased mitochondrial and lysosomal mass, an increased sensitivity to mitochondrial and lysosomal poisons, and an increased basal autophagic flux. This senescence phenotype can be partially suppressed by co-depletion of either p53 or its cognate target gene, p21CIP1/WAF1, or by co-depleting the tumor suppressor p16INK4a. Together, these data describe a direct link of a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme to cellular senescence and further underscore the consequences of disrupting the integration between the ubiquitin proteolysis system and the autophagy machinery.

A muscle-specific MuRF1-E2 network requires stabilization of MuRF1-E2 complexes by telethonin, a newly identified substrate

BACKGROUND

Muscle wasting is observed in the course of many diseases and also during physiological conditions (disuse, ageing). Skeletal muscle mass is largely controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome system and thus by the ubiquitinating enzymes (E2s and E3s) that target substrates for subsequent degradation. MuRF1 is the only E3 ubiquitin ligase known to target contractile proteins (α-actin, myosins) during catabolic situations. However, MuRF1 depends on E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes for ubiquitin chain formation on the substrates. MuRF1-E2 couples are therefore putative targets for preventing muscle wasting.

METHODS

We focused on 14 E2 enzymes that are either expressed in skeletal muscle or up-regulated during atrophying conditions. In this work, we demonstrated that only highly sensitive and complementary interactomic approaches (surface plasmon resonance, yeast three-hybrid, and split green fluorescent protein) allowed the identification of MuRF1 E2 partners.

RESULTS

Five E2 enzymes physically interacted with MuRF1, namely, E2E1, E2G1, E2J1, E2J2, and E2L3. Moreover, we demonstrated that MuRF1-E2E1 and MuRF1-E2J1 interactions are facilitated by telethonin, a newly identified MuRF1 substrate. We next showed that the five identified E2s functionally interacted with MuRF1 since, in contrast to the non-interacting E2D2, their co-expression in HEK293T cells with MuRF1 led to increased telethonin degradation. Finally, we showed that telethonin governed the affinity between MuRF1 and E2E1 or E2J1.

CONCLUSIONS

We report here the first MuRF1-E2s network, which may prove valuable for deciphering the precise mechanisms involved in the atrophying muscle programme and for proposing new therapeutical approaches.

Role of E2-RING Interactions in Governing RNF4-Mediated Substrate Ubiquitination

Members of the really interesting new gene (RING) E3 ubiquitin ligase family bind to both substrate and ubiquitin-charged E2 enzyme, promoting the transfer of ubiquitin from the E2 to substrate. Either a single ubiquitin or one of the several types of polyubiquitin chains can be conjugated to substrate proteins, with different types of ubiquitin modifications signaling the distinct outcomes. E2 enzymes play a central role in governing the nature of the ubiquitin modification, although the essential features of the E2 that differentiate mono- versus polyubiquitinating E2 enzymes remain unclear. RNF4 is a compact RING E3 ligase that directs the ubiquitination of polySUMO chains in concert with several different E2 enzymes. RNF4 monoubiquitinates polySUMO substrates in concert with RAD6B and polyubiquitinates substrates together with UBCH5B, a promiscuous E2 that can function with a broad range of E3 ligases. We find that the divergent ubiquitination activities of RAD6B and UBCH5B are governed by differences at the RING-binding surface of the E2. By mutating the RAD6B RING-binding surface to resemble that of UBCH5B, RAD6B can be transformed into a highly active UBCH5B-like E2 that polyubiquitinates SUMO chains in concert with RNF4. The switch in RAD6B activity correlates with increased affinity of the E2 for RNF4. These results point to an important role of the affinity between an E3 and its cognate E2 in governing the multiplicity of substrate ubiquitination.

A MUB E2 structure reveals E1 selectivity between cognate ubiquitin E2s in eukaryotes

Ubiquitin (Ub) is a protein modifier that controls processes ranging from protein degradation to endocytosis, but early-acting regulators of the three-enzyme ubiquitylation cascade are unknown. Here we report that the prenylated membrane-anchored ubiquitin-fold protein (MUB) is an early-acting regulator of subfamily-specific E2 activation. An AtMUB3:AtUBC8 co-crystal structure defines how MUBs inhibit E2∼Ub formation using a combination of E2 backside binding and a MUB-unique lap-bar loop to block E1 access. Since MUBs tether Arabidopsis group VI E2 enzymes (related to HsUbe2D and ScUbc4/5) to the plasma membrane, and inhibit E2 activation at physiological concentrations, they should function as potent plasma membrane localized regulators of Ub chain synthesis in eukaryotes. Our findings define a biochemical function for MUB, a family of highly conserved Ub-fold proteins, and provide an example of selective activation between cognate Ub E2s, previously thought to be constitutively activated by E1s.

Regulators of the important ubiquitylation cascade are not well studied. Here, the authors report the crystal structure of a prenylated membrane-anchored ubiquitin-fold protein from Arabidopsis bound to an E2 protein and conclude that it is an example of selective activation between E2 enzymes.

E2 enzymes: more than just middle men

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are the central players in the trio of enzymes responsible for the attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) to cellular proteins. Humans have ∼40 E2s that are involved in the transfer of Ub or Ub-like (Ubl) proteins (e.g., SUMO and NEDD8). Although the majority of E2s are only twice the size of Ub, this remarkable family of enzymes performs a variety of functional roles. In this review, we summarize common functional and structural features that define unifying themes among E2s and highlight emerging concepts in the mechanism and regulation of E2s.

Insights into Ubiquitination from the Unique Clamp-like Binding of the RING E3 AO7 to the E2 UbcH5B

RING proteins constitute the largest class of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Unlike most RINGs, AO7 (RNF25) binds the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, UbcH5B (UBE2D2), with strikingly high affinity. We have defined, by co-crystallization, the distinctive means by which AO7 binds UbcH5B. AO7 contains a structurally unique UbcH5B binding region (U5BR) that is connected by an 11-amino acid linker to its RING domain, forming a clamp surrounding the E2. The U5BR interacts extensively with a region of UbcH5B that is distinct from both the active site and the RING-interacting region, referred to as the backside of the E2. An apparent paradox is that the high-affinity binding of the AO7 clamp to UbcH5B, which is dependent on the U5BR, decreases the rate of ubiquitination. We establish that this is a consequence of blocking the stimulatory, non-covalent, binding of ubiquitin to the backside of UbcH5B. Interestingly, when non-covalent backside ubiquitin binding cannot occur, the AO7 clamp now enhances the rate of ubiquitination. The high-affinity binding of the AO7 clamp to UbcH5B has also allowed for the co-crystallization of previously described and functionally important RING mutants at the RING-E2 interface. We show that mutations having marked effects on function only minimally affect the intermolecular interactions between the AO7 RING and UbcH5B, establishing a high degree of complexity in activation through the RING-E2 interface.

Role of a non-canonical surface of Rad6 in ubiquitin conjugating activity

Rad6 is a yeast E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme that monoubiquitinates histone H2B in conjunction with the E3, Bre1, but can non-specifically modify histones on its own. We determined the crystal structure of a Rad6∼Ub thioester mimic, which revealed a network of interactions in the crystal in which the ubiquitin in one conjugate contacts Rad6 in another. The region of Rad6 contacted is located on the distal face of Rad6 opposite the active site, but differs from the canonical E2 backside that mediates free ubiquitin binding and polyubiquitination activity in other E2 enzymes. We find that free ubiquitin interacts weakly with both non-canonical and canonical backside residues of Rad6 and that mutations of non-canonical residues have deleterious effects on Rad6 activity comparable to those observed to mutations in the canonical E2 backside. The effect of non-canonical backside mutations is similar in the presence and absence of Bre1, indicating that contacts with non-canonical backside residues govern the intrinsic activity of Rad6. Our findings shed light on the determinants of intrinsic Rad6 activity and reveal new ways in which contacts with an E2 backside can regulate ubiquitin conjugating activity.

Role of E2-Ub-conjugating enzymes during skeletal muscle atrophy

The Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) is a major actor of muscle wasting during various physio-pathological situations. In the past 15 years, increasing amounts of data have depicted a picture, although incomplete, of the mechanisms implicated in myofibrillar protein degradation, from the discovery of muscle-specific E3 ligases to the identification of the signaling pathways involved. The targeting specificity of the UPS relies on the capacity of the system to first recognize and then label the proteins to be degraded with a poly-ubiquitin (Ub) chain. It is fairly assumed that the recognition of the substrate is accomplished by the numerous E3 ligases present in mammalian cells. However, most E3s do not possess any catalytic activity and E2 enzymes may be more than simple Ub-providers for E3s since they are probably important actors in the ubiquitination machinery. Surprisingly, most authors have tried to characterize E3 substrates, but the exact role of E2s in muscle protein degradation is largely unknown. A very limited number of the 35 E2s described in humans have been studied in muscle protein breakdown experiments and the vast majority of studies were only descriptive. We review here the role of E2 enzymes in skeletal muscle and the difficulties linked to their study and provide future directions for the identification of muscle E2s responsible for the ubiquitination of contractile proteins.