The role of the proteasomal ATPases and activator monoubiquitylation in regulating Gal4 binding to promoters

Non-proteolytic activity of 19S proteasome subunit RPT-6 regulates GATA transcription during response to infection

GATA transcription factors play a crucial role in the regulation of immune functions across metazoans. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the GATA transcription factor ELT-2 is involved in the control of not only infections but also recovery after an infection. We identified RPT-6, part of the 19S proteasome subunit, as an ELT-2 binding partner that is required for the proper expression of genes required for both immunity against bacterial infections and recovery after infection. We found that the intact ATPase domain of RPT-6 is required for the interaction and that inhibition of rpt-6 affected the expression of ELT-2-controlled genes, preventing the appropriate immune response against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and recovery from infection by the pathogen. Further studies indicated that SKN-1, which is an Nrf transcription factor involved in the response to oxidative stress and infection, is activated by inhibition of rpt-6. Our results indicate that RPT-6 interacts with ELT-2 in vivo to control the expression of immune genes in a manner that is likely independent of the proteolytic activity of the proteasome.

The conserved GATA transcription factor ELT-2 plays an important role in the control of genes required for both defense and recovery from infection. We show that RPT-6, a component of the 19S subunit, physically interacts with ELT-2 in vivo, controlling the expression of ELT-2-dependent genes and the response of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to bacterial infection. The proteolytic activity of the proteasome has surfaced as a key regulator of gene expression, but our results provide evidence indicating that a non-canonical activity of the 26S proteasome subunit plays an important role in the control of gene expression during the response to bacterial infection.

The 19S proteasome regulates subtelomere silencing and facultative heterochromatin formation in fission yeast

Accumulating evidence shows that non-proteolytic functions of the proteasome are as crucial as its well-known proteolytic function in regulating cellular activities. In our recent work, we showed that the 19S proteasome mediates the heterochromatin spreading of centromeric heterochromatin in non-proteolytic manner. However, the involvement of the proteasome in other heterochromatin regions remained largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the non-proteolytic role of the 19S proteasome in subtelomere and facultative heterochromatin regions. Using the non-proteolytic mutant, rpt4-1, we show that the 19S proteasome is involved in regulating subtelomere silencing and facultative heterochromatin formation in fission yeast. In addition to this proteasome-related regulation, we also observed a distinct pathway that regulates subtelomere silencing and facultative heterochromatin formation through the Paf1 complex subunit, Leo1. Our comparison of the two pathways revealed a new group of heterochromatin domains that are regulated exclusively by the proteasome pathway. Taken together, our findings reveal that the proteasome is involved in the global regulation of facultative and constitutive heterochromatin.

The 19S proteasome is directly involved in the regulation of heterochromatin spreading in fission yeast

Cumulative evidence suggests that non-proteolytic functions of the proteasome are involved in transcriptional regulation, mRNA export, and ubiquitin-dependent histone modification and thereby modulate the intracellular levels of regulatory proteins implicated in controlling key cellular functions. To date, the non-proteolytic roles of the proteasome have been mainly investigated in euchromatin; their effects on heterochromatin are largely unknown. Here, using fission yeast as a model, we randomly mutagenized the subunits of the 19S proteasome subcomplex and sought to uncover a direct role of the proteasome in heterochromatin regulation. We identified a mutant allele, rpt4-1, that disrupts a non-proteolytic function of the proteasome, also known as a non-proteolytic allele. Experiments performed using rpt4-1 cells revealed that the proteasome is involved in the regulation of heterochromatin spreading to prevent its uncontrolled invasion into neighboring euchromatin regions. Intriguingly, the phenotype of the non-proteolytic rpt4-1 mutant resembled that of epe1Δ cells, which lack the Epe1 protein that counteracts heterochromatin spreading. Both mutants exhibited variegated gene-silencing phenotypes across yeast colonies, spreading of heterochromatin, bypassing of the requirement for RNAi in heterochromatin formation at the outer repeat region (otr), and up-regulation of RNA polymerase II. Further analysis revealed Mst2, another factor that antagonizes heterochromatin spreading, may function redundantly with Rpt4. These observations suggest that the 19S proteasome may be involved in modulating the activities of Epe1 and Mst2. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the proteasome appears to have a heterochromatin-regulating function that is independent of its canonical function in proteolysis.

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase37 regulates Tcf7 DNA binding for the activation of Wnt signalling

The Tcf/Lef family of transcription factors mediates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway that is involved in a wide range of biological processes, including vertebrate embryogenesis and diverse pathogenesis. Post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, sumoylation and acetylation, are known to be important for the regulation of Tcf/Lef proteins. However, the importance of ubiquitination and ubiquitin-mediated regulatory mechanisms for Tcf/Lef activity are still unclear. Here, we newly show that ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 37 (Uch37), a deubiquitinase, interacts with Tcf7 (formerly named Tcf1) to activate Wnt signalling. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that deubiquitinating activity of Uch37 is not involved in Tcf7 protein stability but is required for the association of Tcf7 to target gene promoter in both Xenopus embryo and human liver cancer cells. In vivo analyses further revealed that Uch37 functions as a positive regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway downstream of β-catenin stabilization that is required for the expression of ventrolateral mesoderm genes during Xenopus gastrulation. Our study provides a new mechanism for chromatin occupancy of Tcf7 and uncovers the physiological significance of Uch37 during early vertebrate development by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Transcriptional Activation of Pericentromeric Satellite Repeats and Disruption of Centromeric Clustering upon Proteasome Inhibition

Heterochromatinisation of pericentromeres, which in mice consist of arrays of major satellite repeats, are important for centromere formation and maintenance of genome stability. The dysregulation of this process has been linked to genomic stress and various cancers. Here we show in mice that the proteasome binds to major satellite repeats and proteasome inhibition by MG132 results in their transcriptional de-repression; this de-repression is independent of cell-cycle perturbation. The transcriptional activation of major satellite repeats upon proteasome inhibition is accompanied by delocalisation of heterochromatin protein 1 alpha (HP1α) from chromocentres, without detectable change in the levels of histone H3K9me3, H3K4me3, H3K36me3 and H3 acetylation on the major satellite repeats. Moreover, inhibition of the proteasome was found to increase the number of chromocentres per cell, reflecting destabilisation of the chromocentre structures. Our findings suggest that the proteasome plays a role in maintaining heterochromatin integrity of pericentromeres.

Towards vast libraries of scaffold-diverse, conformationally constrained oligomers

There is great interest in the development of probe molecules and drug leads that would bind tightly and selectively to protein surfaces that are difficult to target with traditional molecules, such as those involved in protein-protein interactions. The currently available evidence suggests that this will require molecules that are larger and have quite different chemical properties than typical Lipinski-compliant molecules that target enzyme active sites. We describe here efforts to develop vast libraries of conformationally constrained oligomers as a potentially rich source of these molecules.

Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases in salicylic acid-mediated plant immune signaling

Plant immune responses against biotrophic pathogens are regulated by the signaling hormone salicylic acid (SA). SA establishes immunity by regulating a variety of cellular processes, including programmed cell death (PCD) to isolate and kill invading pathogens, and development of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) which provides long-lasting, broad-spectrum resistance throughout the plant. Central to these processes is post-translational modification of SA-regulated signaling proteins by ubiquitination, i.e., the covalent addition of small ubiquitin proteins. Emerging evidence indicates SA-induced protein ubiquitination is largely orchestrated by Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs), which recruit specific substrates for ubiquitination using interchangeable adaptors. Ligation of ubiquitin chains interlinked at lysine 48 leads to substrate degradation by the 26S proteasome. Here we discuss how CRL-mediated degradation of both nucleotide-binding/leucine-rich repeat domain containing immune receptors and SA-induced transcription regulators are critical for functional PCD and SAR responses, respectively. By placing these recent findings in context of knowledge gained in other eukaryotic model species, we highlight potential alternative roles for processive ubiquitination in regulating the activity of SA-mediated immune responses.

Functions of the proteasome on chromatin

The proteasome is a large self-compartmentalized protease complex that recognizes, unfolds, and destroys ubiquitylated substrates. Proteasome activities are required for a host of cellular functions, and it has become clear in recent years that one set of critical actions of the proteasome occur on chromatin. In this review, we discuss some of the ways in which proteasomes directly regulate the structure and function of chromatin and chromatin regulatory proteins, and how this influences gene transcription. We discuss lingering controversies in the field, the relative importance of proteolytic versus non-proteolytic proteasome activities in this process, and highlight areas that require further investigation. Our intention is to show that proteasomes are involved in major steps controlling the expression of the genetic information, that proteasomes use both proteolytic mechanisms and ATP-dependent protein remodeling to accomplish this task, and that much is yet to be learned about the full spectrum of ways that proteasomes influence the genome.

The 26S proteasome and initiation of gene transcription

Transcription activation is the foremost step of gene expression and is modulated by various factors that act in synergy. Misregulation of this process and its associated factors has severe effects and hence requires strong regulatory control. In recent years, growing evidence has highlighted the 26S proteasome as an important contributor to the regulation of transcription initiation. Well known for its role in protein destruction, its contribution to protein synthesis was initially viewed with skepticism. However, studies over the past several years have established the proteasome as an important component of transcription initiation through proteolytic and non-proteolytic activities. In this review, we discuss findings made so far in understanding the connections between transcription initiation and the 26S proteasome complex.

Spliced X-box binding protein 1 couples the unfolded protein response to hexosamine biosynthetic pathway

The hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) generates uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) for glycan synthesis and O-linked GlcNAc (O-GlcNAc) protein modifications. Despite the established role of the HBP in metabolism and multiple diseases, regulation of the HBP remains largely undefined. Here, we show that spliced X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1s), the most conserved signal transducer of the unfolded protein response (UPR), is a direct transcriptional activator of the HBP. We demonstrate that the UPR triggers HBP activation via Xbp1s-dependent transcription of genes coding for key, rate-limiting enzymes. We further establish that this previously unrecognized UPR-HBP axis is triggered in a variety of stress conditions. Finally, we demonstrate a physiologic role for the UPR-HBP axis by showing that acute stimulation of Xbp1s in heart by ischemia/reperfusion confers robust cardioprotection in part through induction of the HBP. Collectively, these studies reveal that Xbp1s couples the UPR to the HBP to protect cells under stress.

Ubiquitin signals proteolysis-independent stripping of transcription factors

Ubiquitination of transcription activators has been reported to regulate transcription via both proteolytic and nonproteolytic routes, yet the function of the ubiquitin (Ub) signal in the nonproteolytic process is poorly understood. By use of the heterologous transcription activator LexA-VP16 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that monoubiquitin fusion of the activator prevents stable interactions between the activator and DNA, leading to transcription inhibition without activator degradation. We identify the AAA(+) ATPase Cdc48 and its cofactors as the Ub receptor responsible for extracting the monoubiquitinated activator from DNA. Our results suggest that deubiquitination of the activator is critical for transcription activation. These findings with LexA-VP16 extend in both yeast and mammalian cells to native transcription activators Met4 and R-Smads, respectively, that are known to be oligo-ubiquitinated. The results illustrate a role for Ub and Cdc48 in transcriptional regulation and gene expression that is independent of proteolysis.

Mediator recruitment to heat shock genes requires dual Hsf1 activation domains and mediator tail subunits Med15 and Med16

The evolutionarily conserved Mediator complex is central to the regulation of gene transcription in eukaryotes because it serves as a physical and functional interface between upstream regulators and the Pol II transcriptional machinery. Nonetheless, its role appears to be context-dependent, and the detailed mechanism by which it governs the expression of most genes remains unknown. Here we investigate Mediator involvement in HSP (heat shock protein) gene regulation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that in response to thermal upshift, subunits representative of each of the four Mediator modules (Head, Middle, Tail, and Kinase) are rapidly, robustly, and selectively recruited to the promoter regions of HSP genes. Their residence is transient, returning to near-background levels within 90 min. Hsf1 (heat shock factor 1) plays a central role in recruiting Mediator, as indicated by the fact that truncation of either its N- or C-terminal activation domain significantly reduces Mediator occupancy, whereas removal of both activation domains abolishes it. Likewise, ablation of either of two Mediator Tail subunits, Med15 or Med16, reduces Mediator recruitment to HSP promoters, whereas deletion of both abolishes it. Accompanying the loss of Mediator, recruitment of RNA polymerase II is substantially diminished. Interestingly, Mediator antagonizes Hsf1 occupancy of non-induced promoters yet facilitates enhanced Hsf1 association with activated ones. Collectively, our observations indicate that Hsf1, via its dual activation domains, recruits holo-Mediator to HSP promoters in response to acute heat stress through cooperative physical and/or functional interactions with the Tail module.

The Xbp1s/GalE axis links ER stress to postprandial hepatic metabolism

Postprandially, the liver experiences an extensive metabolic reprogramming that is required for the switch from glucose production to glucose assimilation. Upon refeeding, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is rapidly, though only transiently, activated. Activation of the UPR results in a cessation of protein translation, increased chaperone expression, and increased ER-mediated protein degradation, but it is not clear how the UPR is involved in the postprandial switch to alternate fuel sources. Activation of the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) branch of the UPR signaling pathway triggers expression of the transcription factor Xbp1s. Using a mouse model with liver-specific inducible Xbp1s expression, we demonstrate that Xbp1s is sufficient to provoke a metabolic switch characteristic of the postprandial state, even in the absence of caloric influx. Mechanistically, we identified UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GalE) as a direct transcriptional target of Xbp1s and as the key mediator of this effect. Our results provide evidence that the Xbp1s/GalE pathway functions as a novel regulatory nexus connecting the UPR to the characteristic postprandial metabolic changes in hepatocytes.

How the ubiquitin proteasome system regulates the regulators of transcription

The ubiquitin proteasome system plays an important role in transcription. Monoubiquitination of activators is believed to aid their function, while the 26S proteasomal degradation of repressors is believed to restrict their function. What remains controversial is the question of whether the degradation of activators aids or restricts their function.

Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in nervous system function and disease: using C. elegans as a dissecting tool

In addition to its central roles in protein quality control, regulation of cell cycle, intracellular signaling, DNA damage response and transcription regulation, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays specific roles in the nervous system, where it contributes to precise connectivity through development, and later assures functionality by regulating a wide spectrum of neuron-specific cellular processes. Aberrations in this system have been implicated in the etiology of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we provide an updated view on the UPS and highlight recent findings concerning its role in normal and diseased nervous systems. We discuss the advantages of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans as a tool to unravel the major unsolved questions concerning this biochemical pathway and its involvement in nervous system function and dysfunction, and expose the new possibilities, using state-of-the-art techniques, to assess UPS function using this model system.

Complex dynamics of transcription regulation

Transcription is a tightly regulated cellular function which can be triggered by endogenous (intrinsic) or exogenous (extrinsic) signals. The development of novel techniques to examine the dynamic behavior of transcription factors and the analysis of transcriptional activity at the single cell level with increased temporal resolution has revealed unexpected elements of stochasticity and dynamics of this process. Emerging research reveals a complex picture, wherein a wide range of time scales and temporal transcription patterns overlap to generate transcriptional programs. The challenge now is to develop a perspective that can guide us to common underlying mechanisms, and consolidate these findings. Here we review the recent literature on temporal dynamics and stochastic gene regulation patterns governed by intrinsic or extrinsic signals, utilizing the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated transcriptional model to illustrate commonality of these emerging concepts. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin in time and space.

Regulation of gene expression by the ubiquitin-proteasome system

Transcription is the foremost regulatory point during the process of producing a functional protein. Not only specific genes need to be turned on and off according to growth and environmental conditions, the amounts and quality of transcripts produced are fine-tuned to offer optimal responses. As a result, numerous regulatory mechanisms converge to provide temporal and spatial specificity for this process. In the past decade, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which is best known as a pathway for intracellular proteolysis, has emerged as another pivotal player in the control of gene expression. There is increasing evidence that the UPS has both proteolytic and non-proteolytic functions in multiple aspects of the transcription process, including initiation, elongation, mRNA processing as well as chromatin dynamics. In this review, we introduce the many interfaces between the UPS and transcription with focuses on the mechanistic understanding of UPS function in each process.

Ubiquitin and proteasomes in transcription

Regulation of gene transcription is vitally important for the maintenance of normal cellular homeostasis. Failure to correctly regulate gene expression, or to deal with problems that arise during the transcription process, can lead to cellular catastrophe and disease. One of the ways cells cope with the challenges of transcription is by making extensive use of the proteolytic and nonproteolytic activities of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Here, we review recent evidence showing deep mechanistic connections between the transcription and ubiquitin-proteasome systems. Our goal is to leave the reader with a sense that just about every step in transcription-from transcription initiation through to export of mRNA from the nucleus-is influenced by the UPS and that all major arms of the system--from the first step in ubiquitin (Ub) conjugation through to the proteasome-are recruited into transcriptional processes to provide regulation, directionality, and deconstructive power.

mRNA export and gene expression: the SAGA-TREX-2 connection

In the gene expression field, different steps have been traditionally viewed as discrete and unconnected events. Nowadays, genetic and functional studies support the model of a coupled network of physical and functional connections to carry out mRNA biogenesis. Gene expression is a coordinated process that comprises different linked steps like transcription, RNA processing, export to the cytoplasm, translation and degradation of mRNAs. Its regulation is essential for cellular survival and can occur at many different levels. Transcription is the central function that occurs in the nucleus, and RNAPII plays an essential role in mRNA biogenesis. During transcription, nascent mRNA is associated with the mRNA-binding proteins involved in processing and export of the mRNA particle. Cells have developed a network of multi-protein complexes whose functions regulate the different factors involved both temporally and spatially. This coupling mechanism acts as a quality control to solve some of the organization problems of gene expression in vivo, where all the factors implicated ensure that mRNAs are ready to be exported and translated. In this review, we focus on the functional coupling of gene transcription and mRNA export, and place particular emphasis on the relationship between the NPC-associated complex, TREX2, and the transcription co-activator, SAGA. We have pinpointed the experimental evidence for Sus1's roles in transcription initiation, transcription elongation and mRNA export. In addition, we have reviewed other NPC-related processes such as gene gating to the nuclear envelope, the chromatin structure and the cellular context in which these processes take place. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear Transport and RNA Processing.

Rapid GAL gene switch of Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on nuclear Gal3, not nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of Gal3 and Gal80

The yeast transcriptional activator Gal4 localizes to UAS(GAL) sites even in the absence of galactose but cannot activate transcription due to an association with the Gal80 protein. By 4 min after galactose addition, Gal4-activated gene transcription ensues. It is well established that this rapid induction arises through a galactose-triggered association between the Gal80 and Gal3 proteins that decreases the association of Gal80 and Gal4. How this happens mechanistically remains unclear. Strikingly different hypotheses prevail concerning the possible roles of nucleocytoplasmic distribution and trafficking of Gal3 and Gal80 and where in the cell the initial Gal3-Gal80 association occurs. Here we tested two conflicting hypotheses by evaluating the subcellular distribution and dynamics of Gal3 and Gal80 with reference to induction kinetics. We determined that the rates of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking for both Gal80 and Gal3 are slow relative to the rate of induction. We find that depletion of the nuclear pool of Gal3 slows the induction kinetics. Thus, nuclear Gal3 is critical for rapid induction. Fluorescence-recovery-after-photobleaching experiments provided data suggesting that the Gal80-Gal4 complex exhibits kinetic stability in the absence of galactose. Finally, we detect Gal3 at the UAS(GAL) only if Gal80 is covalently linked to the DNA-binding domain. Taken altogether, these new findings lead us to propose that a transient interaction of Gal3 with Gal4-associated Gal80 could explain the rapid response of this system. This notion could also explain earlier observations.

Promoter context determines the role of proteasome in ligand-dependent occupancy of retinoic acid responsive elements

Retinoid acid receptors are DNA-binding proteins mediating the biological effects of ligands through transcriptional activation. It is known that the activity of the 26S proteasome is important for nuclear receptor-activated gene transcription. However, the molecular mechanism by which the 26S proteasome participates in this process is not well understood. Here we report that the proteasome activity is essential for ligand-dependent interaction of RAR with its co-regulators such as SRC, p300 and RXR. We also determined that the proteasome activity is required for the association of liganded RAR to the genomic DNA and, consequently, for the recruitment of the coactivator complex to the retinoic acid responsive elements. Moreover, the requirement of proteasome activity for the activator activity of RAR is determined by the promoter context. Our study suggests that the 26S proteasome regulates directly the activity of RAR as an activator.

New insight into the role of the Cdc34 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in cell cycle regulation via Ace2 and Sic1

The Cdc34 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme plays a central role in progression of the cell cycle. Through analysis of the phenotype of a mutant missing a highly conserved sequence motif within the catalytic domain of Cdc34, we discovered previously unrecognized levels of regulation of the Ace2 transcription factor and the cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor Sic1. In cells carrying the Cdc34(tm) mutation, which alters the conserved sequence, the cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor Sic1, an SCF(Cdc4) substrate, has a shorter half-life, while the cyclin Cln1, an SCF(Grr1) substrate, has a longer half-life than in wild-type cells. Expression of the SIC1 gene cluster, which is regulated by Swi5 and Ace2 transcription factors, is induced in CDC34(tm) cells. Levels of Swi5, Ace2, and the SCF(Grr1) targets Cln1 and Cln2 are elevated in Cdc34(tm) cells, and loss of Grr1 causes an increase in Ace2 levels. Sic1 levels are similar in CDC34(tm) ace2Δ and wild-type cells, explaining a paradoxical increase in the steady-state level of Sic1 protein despite its reduced half-life. A screen for mutations that interact with CDC34(tm) uncovered novel regulators of Sic1, including genes encoding the polyubiquitin chain receptors Rad23 and Rpn10.

Proteolytic and non-proteolytic roles of ubiquitin and the ubiquitin proteasome system in transcriptional regulation

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) regulates perhaps the most intriguing balance in all of biology: how cells control protein function and malfunction in order to regulate, and eventually eliminate, the old and error prone while simultaneously synthesizing and orchestrating the new. In light of the growing notion that ubiquitination and the 26S proteasome are central to a multiplicity of diverse cellular functions, we discuss here the proteolytic and non-proteolytic roles of the UPS in regulating pathways ultimately involved in protein synthesis and activity including roles in epigenetics, transcription, and post-translational modifications. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled The 26S Proteasome: When degradation is just not enough!

Paradoxical instability-activity relationship defines a novel regulatory pathway for retinoblastoma proteins

Functional overlap of retinoblastoma protein stability and activity reveals a novel conserved regulatory pathway during Drosophila development.

The Retinoblastoma (RB) transcriptional corepressor and related family of pocket proteins play central roles in cell cycle control and development, and the regulatory networks governed by these factors are frequently inactivated during tumorigenesis. During normal growth, these proteins are subject to tight control through at least two mechanisms. First, during cell cycle progression, repressor potential is down-regulated by Cdk-dependent phosphorylation, resulting in repressor dissociation from E2F family transcription factors. Second, RB proteins are subject to proteasome-mediated destruction during development. To better understand the mechanism for RB family protein instability, we characterized Rbf1 turnover in Drosophila and the protein motifs required for its destabilization. We show that specific point mutations in a conserved C-terminal instability element strongly stabilize Rbf1, but strikingly, these mutations also cripple repression activity. Rbf1 is destabilized specifically in actively proliferating tissues of the larva, indicating that controlled degradation of Rbf1 is linked to developmental signals. The positive linkage between Rbf1 activity and its destruction indicates that repressor function is governed in a manner similar to that described by the degron theory of transcriptional activation. Analogous mutations in the mammalian RB family member p107 similarly induce abnormal accumulation, indicating substantial conservation of this regulatory pathway.

Distinct regulatory mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional activation by SAGA and TFIID

A growing number of human diseases are linked to abnormal gene expression which is largely controlled at the level of transcriptional initiation. The gene-specific activator promotes the initiation of transcription through its interaction with one or more components of the transcriptional initiation machinery, hence leading to stimulated transcriptional initiation or activation. However, all activator proteins do not target the same component(s) of the transcriptional initiation machinery. Rather, they can have different target specificities, and thus, can lead to distinct mechanisms of transcriptional activation. Two such distinct mechanisms of transcriptional activation in yeast are mediated by the SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-Acetyltransferase) and TFIID (Transcription factor IID) complexes, and are termed as "SAGA-dependent" and "TFIID-dependent" transcriptional activation, respectively. SAGA is the target of the activator in case of SAGA-dependent transcriptional activation, while the targeting of TFIID by the activator leads to TFIID-dependent transcriptional activation. Both the SAGA and TFIID complexes are highly conserved from yeast to human, and play crucial roles in gene activation among eukaryotes. The regulatory mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional activation by SAGA and TFIID are discussed here. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled The 26S Proteasome: When degradation is just not enough!

Regulation of LIM-domain-binding 1 protein expression by ubiquitination of Lys134

LDB1 (LIM-domain-binding 1) is a cofactor that participates in formation of transcriptional regulatory complexes involving transcription factors containing LIM domains as well as other factors. The amount of LDB1 protein in cells has previously been shown to be modulated by RNF12 (RING finger protein 12). RNF12 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that can target LDB1 for poly-ubiquitination and degradation via the proteasome. We find that in HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells expression of RNF12 leads to mono-ubiquitination of LDB1 and increased levels of LDB1 protein. Mutagenesis studies identified Lys134 of LDB1 as the residue that is mono-ubiquitinated by RNF12. Mutation of Lys134 of LDB1 to arginine blocks the formation of mono-ubiquitinated LDB1 and surprisingly also increases LDB1 protein expression in HEK-293 cells. This leads to a model in which Lys134 of LDB1 can be either mono-ubiquitinated, leading to stabilization, or poly-ubiquitinated, leading to degradation by the proteasome pathway. We also find that ubiquitin-LDB1 fusion proteins are stabilized in HEK-293 cells, offering further evidence that mono-ubiquitination stabilizes LDB1 in these cells. Expression in Xenopus laevis embryos of an LDB1 protein in which Lys134 is replaced with arginine leads to enhanced expression of the mutant protein as compared with the wild-type protein. These findings provide evidence that modification of Lys134 can play a major role in regulating LDB1 expression.

Association of the 19S proteasomal ATPases with the ATPase-binding domain of CIITA is essential for CIITA stability and MHC class II expression

Major histocompatibility class II (MHC class II) molecules are glycoproteins that present extracellular antigens to CD4(+) T cells and are essential for initiation of adaptive immune responses. MHC class II expression requires recruitment of a master regulator, the class II transactivator (CIITA), to the MHC class II promoter. Others and we have earlier linked CIITA to the ubiquitin-proteasome system by showing that mono-ubiquitination of CIITA increases its transactivity, whereas poly-ubiquitination of CIITA leads to its degradation. We have further shown that the 26S proteasome also has non-proteolytic functions in MHC class II transcription, as 19S ATPase subunits of the 26S proteasome positively regulate MHC class II transcription and are necessary for stable promoter binding of CIITA. Although these basic requirements of the proteasome to initiate MHC class II transcription are known, how CIITA is recruited, stabilized, and degraded remains unclear. Here, we identify a novel N-terminal 19S ATPase-binding domain of CIITA. The ATPase-binding domain lies within the proline/serine/threonine-rich region of CIITA and encompasses a majority of the CIITA degron sequence. Absence of the ATPase-binding domain increases the half-life of CIITA, but blocks MHC class II surface expression, indicating that CIITA requires interaction with the 19S ATPases for both appropriate deployment and destruction.

The 19 s proteasome subcomplex establishes a specific protein interaction network at the promoter for stimulated transcriptional initiation in vivo

The 26 S proteasome complex that comprises the 20 S core and 19 S regulatory (with six ATPases) particles is engaged in an ATP-dependent degradation of a variety of key regulatory proteins and, thus, controls important cellular processes. Interestingly, several recent studies have implicated the 19 S regulatory particle in controlling eukaryotic transcriptional initiation or activation independently of the 20 S core particle. However, the mechanism of action of the 19 S proteasome subcomplex in regulation of eukaryotic transcriptional activation is not clearly understood in vivo. Here, using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay in conjunction with mutational and transcriptional analyses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that the 19 S proteasomal subcomplex establishes a specific protein interaction network at the upstream activating sequence of the promoter. Such an interaction network is essential for formation of the preinitiation complex at the core promoter to initiate transcription. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the formation of the transcription complex assembly at the promoter is dependent on 19 S ATPase activity. Intriguingly, 19 S ATPases appear to cross-talk for stimulation of the assembly of transcription factors at the promoter. Together, these results provide significant insights as to how the 19 S proteasome subcomplex regulates the formation of the active transcription complex assembly (and, hence, transcriptional initiation) at the promoter in vivo.

No Splicing, no dicing: non-proteolytic roles of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in transcription

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is responsible for most programmed turnover of proteins in eukaryotic cells, and this activity has been known for some time to be involved in transcriptional regulation. More recently, intersections of the UPP and transcription have been discovered that are not proteolytic in nature and appear to revolve around the chaperonin-like activities of the ATPases in the 19 S regulatory subunit of the proteasome. Moreover, monoubiquitylation, which does not signal degradation, has been found to be a key modification of many transcription factors and histones. These various non-proteolytic roles of the UPP in transcription are reviewed here, and plausible mechanistic models are discussed.

The hydrophobic patch of ubiquitin is required to protect transactivator-promoter complexes from destabilization by the proteasomal ATPases

Mono-ubiquitylation of a transactivator is known to promote transcriptional activation of certain transactivator proteins. For the Sacchromyces cerevisiae transactivator, GAL4, attachment of mono-ubiquitin prevents destabilization of the DNA-transactivator complex by the ATPases of the 26S proteasome. This inhibition of destabilization depends on the arrangement of ubiquitin; a chain of ubiquitin tetramers linked through lysine 48 did not display the same protective effect as mono-ubiquitin. This led to an investigation into the properties of ubiquitin that may be responsible for this difference in activity between the different forms. We demonstrate the ubiquitin tetramers linked through lysine 63 do protect from proteasomal-mediated destabilization. In addition, we show that the mutating the isoleucine residue at position 44 interferes with proteasomal interaction in vitro and will abolish the protective activity in vivo. Together, these data implicate the hydrophobic patch of ubiquitin as required to protect transactivators from destabilization by the proteasomal ATPases.

Non-proteolytic regulation of p53-mediated transcription through destabilization of the activator.promoter complex by the proteasomal ATPases

It has been shown previously that sub-complexes of the 26 S proteasome can regulate gene expression via non-proteolytic mechanisms. One such mechanism is the disruption of activator.promoter complexes in an ATP-dependent fashion, which was discovered in the context of the yeast Gal4 system. This activity strongly inhibits Gal4-driven gene expression unless the activator is mono-ubiquitylated, which protects it from the ATPases. To address whether this paradigm is also applicable to medically important mammalian transcriptional activators we report here a study of the interaction of the proteasomal ATPases with p53. It is shown that p53 binds directly to the ATPases via its C-terminal tetramerization and regulatory domain and that p53.promoter complexes are indeed vulnerable to ATPase-dependent disruption by the ATPase complex in vitro. Knockdown of one of the ATPases, Rpt6, in living cells results in increased occupancy of the p21(waf1) promoter by p53 and increased expression of the gene, consistent with the idea that the proteasomal ATPases negatively regulate p53 function in a non-proteolytic fashion.

Transcription dynamics

All aspects of transcription and its regulation involve dynamic events. The basal transcription machinery and regulatory components are dynamically recruited to their target genes, and dynamic interactions of transcription factors with chromatin--and with each other--play a key role in RNA polymerase assembly, initiation, and elongation. These short-term binding dynamics of transcription factors are superimposed by long-term cyclical behavior of chromatin opening and transcription factor-binding events. Its dynamic nature is not only a fundamental property of the transcription machinery, but it is emerging as an important modulator of physiological processes, particularly in differentiation and development.

Transcription dynamics

All aspects of transcription and its regulation involve dynamic events. The basal transcription machinery and regulatory components are dynamically recruited to their target genes, and dynamic interactions of transcription factors with chromatin--and with each other--play a key role in RNA polymerase assembly, initiation, and elongation. These short-term binding dynamics of transcription factors are superimposed by long-term cyclical behavior of chromatin opening and transcription factor-binding events. Its dynamic nature is not only a fundamental property of the transcription machinery, but it is emerging as an important modulator of physiological processes, particularly in differentiation and development.

The Snf1 kinase and proteasome-associated Rad23 regulate UV-responsive gene expression

The transcriptional response to damaging agents is of fundamental significance for understanding mechanisms responsible for cell survival and genome maintenance. However, how damage signals are transmitted to the transcriptional apparatus is poorly understood. Here we identify two new regulators of the UV response transcriptome: Snf1, a nutrient-sensing kinase, and Rad23, a nucleotide excision repair factor with no previously known function in transcriptional control. Over half of all UV-responsive genes are dependent on Snf1 or Rad23 for proper regulation. After irradiation, Snf1 targets the Mig3 repressor, a new effector of the UV response. Snf1 and Rad23 are both required for the displacement of Mig3 from the UV-activated HUG1 promoter, and Rad23's activity is functionally linked to the proteasome 19S regulatory particle. Our data reveal overlapping functions for Snf1 and Rad23 in UV-responsive transcriptional regulation and provide mechanistic insight into the action of these factors at a UV-activated promoter. These results also highlight how diverse environmental stimuli are processed by a limited repertoire of signalling molecules to result in tailored patterns of gene expression.

Subcomplexes of PA700, the 19 S regulator of the 26 S proteasome, reveal relative roles of AAA subunits in 26 S proteasome assembly and activation and ATPase activity

We have identified, purified, and characterized three subcomplexes of PA700, the 19 S regulatory complex of the 26 S proteasome. These subcomplexes (denoted PS-1, PS-2, and PS-3) collectively account for all subunits present in purified PA700 but contain no overlapping components or significant levels of non-PA700 proteins. Each subcomplex contained two of the six AAA subunits (Rpt1-6) that form the binding interface of PA700 with the 20 S proteasome, the protease component of the 26 S proteasome. Unlike intact PA700, no individual PA700 subcomplex displayed ATPase activity or proteasome activating activity. However, both activities were manifested by ATP-dependent in vitro reconstitution of PA700 from the subcomplexes. We exploited functional reconstitution to define and distinguish roles of different PA700 subunits in PA700 function by selective alteration of subunits within individual subcomplexes prior to reconstitution. Carboxypeptidase treatment of either PS-2 or PS-3, subcomplexes containing specific Rpt subunits previously shown to have important roles in 26 S proteasome assembly and activation, inhibited these processes but did not affect PA700 reconstitution or ATPase activity. Thus, the intact C termini of both subunits are required for 26 S proteasome assembly and activation but not for PA700 reconstitution. Surprisingly, carboxypeptidase treatment of PS-1 also inhibited 26 S proteasome assembly and activation upon reconstitution with untreated PS-2 and PS-3. These results suggest a previously unidentified role for other PA700 subunits in 26 S proteasome assembly and activation. Our results reveal relative structural and functional relationships among the AAA subunits of PA700 and new insights about mechanisms of 26 S proteasome assembly and activation.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling initiates a dynamic interplay between sumoylation and ubiquitination to regulate the activity of the transcriptional activator PEA3

Many transcription factors are controlled through SUMO modification, and in the majority of cases this modification results in enhancements in their repressive properties. In some instances, SUMO modification and its associated repressive activities can be reversed by the action of intracellular signaling pathways, leading to enhanced transcriptional capacities of transcription factors. Here we have investigated sumoylation of the ETS domain transcription factor PEA3 and its interplay with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway. PEA3 is modified by SUMO in vitro and in vivo on multiple sites in its N-terminal region. Activation of the ERK MAP kinase pathway promotes sumoylation of PEA3. Importantly, sumoylation of PEA3 is required for maximal activation of target gene promoters, including MMP-1 and COX-2. Molecularly, sumoylation is selectively required for synergistic activation of target gene expression with the coactivator CBP. Moreover, sumoylation of PEA3 is required for ubiquitination of PEA3 and promotes its degradation, suggesting that SUMO-mediated recycling of PEA3 plays a role in PEA3-mediated promoter activation. Thus, in contrast to the majority of other transcription factors studied, sumoylation of PEA3 plays a positive role in PEA3-mediated transcriptional activation and the ERK MAP kinase pathway cooperates with rather than antagonizes this process.

The F-box protein beta-TrCp1/Fbw1a interacts with p300 to enhance beta-catenin transcriptional activity

Hyperactivated beta-catenin is a commonly found molecular abnormality in colon cancer, and its nuclear accumulation is thought to promote the expression of genes associated with cellular proliferation and transformation. The p300 transcriptional co-activator binds to beta-catenin and facilitates transcription by recruiting chromatin remodeling complexes and general transcriptional apparatus. We have found that beta-TrCp1/Fbw1a, a member of the Skp1/Cullin/Rbx1/F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, binds directly to p300 and co-localizes with it to beta-catenin target gene promoters. Our data show that Fbw1a, which normally targets beta-catenin for degradation, works together with p300 to enhance the transcriptional activity of beta-catenin, whereas other F-box/WD40 proteins do not. Fbw1a also cooperates with p300 to co-activate transcription by SMAD3, another Fbw1a ubiquitylation target, but not p53 or HIF-1alpha, which are substrates for other ubiquitin ligase complexes. These results suggest that, although Fbw1a is part of a negative feedback loop for controlling beta-catenin levels in normal cells, its overexpression and binding to p300 may contribute to hyperactivated beta-catenin transcriptional activity in colon cancer cells.

Proteasomal degradation of the papillomavirus E2 protein is inhibited by overexpression of bromodomain-containing protein 4

The E2 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) binds to specific sites in the viral genome to regulate its transcription, replication, and maintenance in infected cells. Like most regulatory proteins, E2 is rapidly turned over. A high-throughput assay was developed to quantify the expression and stability of E2 in vivo, based on its fusion to Renilla luciferase (RLuc). The steady-state levels of Rluc-E2 were quantified by measuring the amounts of associated luciferase activity, and its degradation was measured by monitoring the decrease in enzymatic activity occurring after a block of translation with cycloheximide. Using this assay, the E2 proteins from a low-risk (HPV11) and a high-risk (HPV31) human papillomavirus (HPV) type were found to have short half-lives of 60 min in C33A cervical carcinoma cells and to be ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. Analysis of mutant proteins showed that the instability of E2 is independent of its DNA-binding and transcriptional activities but is encoded within its transactivation domain, the region that binds to the cellular chromatin factor bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) to regulate viral gene transcription. Overexpression of Brd4, or of its C-terminal E2-interaction domain, was found to increase the steady-state levels and stability of wild-type E2 but not of E2 mutants defective for binding Brd4. These results indicate that the stability of E2 is increased upon complex formation with Brd4 and highlight the value of the luciferase assay for the study of E2 degradation.

Diverse regulatory mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional activation by the proteasome complex

The life of any protein within a cell begins with transcriptional activation, and ends with proteolytic degradation. Intriguingly, the 26S proteasome complex, a non-lysosomal protein degradation machine comprising the 20S proteolytic core and 19S regulatory particles, has been implicated in intimate regulation of eukaryotic transcriptional activation through diverse mechanisms in a proteolysis-dependent as well as independent manner. Here, we discuss the intricate mechanisms of such proteasomal regulation of eukaryotic gene activation via multiple pathways.

New interacting partners of the F-box protein Ufo1 of yeast

The yeast F-box protein Ufo1 recruits proteins for ubiquitylation by the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex preparing them for proteasomal degradation. Ufo1 has a role in maintenance of genome stability; its substrates include Ho endonuclease and Rad30 polymerase of error-prone DNA repair. Ufo1 is an unusual F-box protein, as it has three ubiquitin interacting motifs (UIMs). Deletion of the genomic UIMs is lethal; ectopic expression of UFO1 Delta UIMs extends protein half-life and arrests the cell cycle. A whole-genome study employing a TAP tag fused to the C-terminal UIMs did not identify Ufo1-interacting proteins. Here we therefore used stabilized N-terminally tagged Ufo1 Delta UIM as a strategy to identify Ufo1-interacting proteins by mass spectroscopy. We identified proteins that function in transcription, and an indirect interaction with Hsp70 molecular chaperones via the Skp1 adaptor; we also show that Ufo1 interacts with the 19S regulatory particle of the proteasome. Thus, our data augment the current network of known Ufo1 interacting proteins. We show directly that the UIMs are crucial for Ufo1 ubiquitylation in vivo, indicating that they facilitate turnover of SCF Ufo1 complexes. This allows recycling of the core subunits of the SCF complex and cell cycle progression.

Misfolding of proteins with a polyglutamine expansion is facilitated by proteasomal chaperones

Deposition of misfolded proteins with a polyglutamine expansion is a hallmark of Huntington disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Impairment of the proteolytic function of the proteasome has been reported to be both a cause and a consequence of polyglutamine accumulation. Here we found that the proteasomal chaperones that unfold proteins to be degraded by the proteasome but also have non-proteolytic functions co-localized with huntingtin inclusions both in primary neurons and in Huntington disease patients and formed a complex independently of the proteolytic particle. Overexpression of Rpt4 or Rpt6 facilitated aggregation of mutant huntingtin and ataxin-3 without affecting proteasomal degradation. Conversely, reducing Rpt6 or Rpt4 levels decreased the number of inclusions in primary neurons, indicating that endogenous Rpt4 and Rpt6 facilitate inclusion formation. In vitro reconstitution experiments revealed that purified 19S particles promote mutant huntingtin aggregation. When fused to the ornithine decarboxylase destabilizing sequence, proteins with expanded polyglutamine were efficiently degraded and did not aggregate. We propose that aggregation of proteins with expanded polyglutamine is not a consequence of a proteolytic failure of the 20S proteasome. Rather, aggregation is elicited by chaperone subunits of the 19S particle independently of proteolysis.

Phosphorylation of the Gal4 DNA-binding domain is essential for activator mono-ubiquitylation and efficient promoter occupancy

Recent analysis of a Gal4 mutant (Gap71) carrying three point mutations (S22D, K23Q and K25F) in its DNA-binding domain (DBD), has demonstrated that it cannot occupy GAL promoters efficiently in cells and that it is not mono-ubiquitylated, suggesting a functional link between this modification and stable DNA binding in cells. The mechanistic underpinning of this phenotype is that this protein is hypersensitive to a newly discovered activity of the proteasomal ATPases--their ability to actively dissociate transcription factor-DNA complexes after direct interaction with the activation domain. In this paper, we examine the roles of each of the three point mutations contained in Gap71 individually. These experiments have revealed that serine 22 is a site of phosphorylation in the Gal4 DBD and that lysine 23 is essential for S22 phosphorylation, possibly acting as part of the kinase recognition site. Mutation of either residue blocks Gal4 DBD phosphorylation, its subsequent ubiquitylation and compromises the ability of the activator to bind promoter DNA in vivo. These data represent the first report of an essential phosphorylation event that is critical for the activity of this paradigmatic transcription factor.

Physical and functional interactions of monoubiquitylated transactivators with the proteasome

Destabilization of activator-DNA complexes by the proteasomal ATPases can inhibit transcription by limiting activator interaction with DNA. Modification of the activator by monoubiquitylation protects the activator from this destabilization activity. In this study, we probe the mechanism of this protective effect of monoubiquitylation. Using novel label transfer and chemical cross-linking techniques, we show that ubiquitin contacts the ATPase complex directly, apparently via Rpn1 and Rpt1. This interaction results in the dissociation of the activation domain-ATPase complex via an allosteric process. A model is proposed in which activator monoubiquitylation serves to limit the lifetime of the activator-ATPase complex interaction and thus the ability of the ATPases to unfold the activator and dissociate the protein-DNA complex.

Activation domain-dependent monoubiquitylation of Gal4 protein is essential for promoter binding in vivo

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gal4 protein is a paradigmatic transcriptional activator containing a C-terminal acidic activation domain (AD) of 34 amino acids. A mutation that results in the truncation of about two-thirds of the Gal4AD (gal4D) results in a crippled protein with only 3% the activity of the wild-type activator. We show here that although the Gal4D protein is not intrinsically deficient in DNA binding, it is nonetheless unable to stably occupy GAL promoters in vivo. This is because of the activity of the proteasomal ATPases, including Sug1/Rpt6, which bind to Gal4D via the remainder of the AD and strip it off of DNA. A mutation that suppressed the Gal4D "no growth on galactose" phenotype repressed the stripping activity of the ATPase complex but not other activities. We further demonstrate that Gal4D is hypersensitive to this stripping activity because of its failure to be monoubiquitylated efficiently in vivo and in vitro. Evidence is presented that the piece of the AD that is deleted in Gal4D protein is likely a recognition element for the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase that modifies Gal4. These data argue that acidic ADs comprise at least two small peptide subdomains, one of which is responsible for activator monoubiquitylation and another that interacts with the proteasomal ATPases, coactivators and other transcription factors. This study validates the physiological importance of Gal4 monoubiquitylation and clarifies its major role as that of protecting the activator from being destabilized by the proteasomal ATPases.

Rapid identification of the pharmacophore in a peptoid inhibitor of the proteasome regulatory particle

Here we report a simple and effective method to identify the minimal pharmacophore in the first peptoid inhibitor of the 19S proteasome regulatory particle, which has led to the development of a derivative that exhibits improved cellular activity, presumably due to a reduction in mass of about two-fold and the elimination of positively charged lysine-like residues.

Coupling and coordination in gene expression processes: a systems biology view

Genome-scale analyses have allowed us to progress beyond studying gene expression at the level of individual components of a given process by providing global information about functional connections between genes, mRNAs and their regulatory proteins. Such analyses have greatly increased our understanding of the interplay between different events in gene regulation and have highlighted previously unappreciated functional connections, including coupling between nuclear and cytoplasmic processes. Genome-wide approaches have also revealed extensive coordination within regulatory levels, such as the organization of transcription factors into regulatory motifs. Overall, these studies enhance our understanding of how the many components of the eukaryotic cell function as a system to allow both coordination and versatility in gene expression.

Role of proteasomes in cellular regulation

The 26S proteasome is the key enzyme of the ubiquitin-dependent pathway of protein degradation. This energy-dependent nanomachine is composed of a 20S catalytic core and associated regulatory complexes. The eukaryotic 20S proteasomes demonstrate besides several kinds of peptidase activities, the endoribonuclease, protein-chaperone and DNA-helicase activities. Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway controls the levels of the key regulatory proteins in the cell and thus is essential for life and is involved in regulation of crucial cellular processes. Proteasome population in the cell is structurally and functionally heterogeneous. These complexes are subjected to tightly organized regulation, particularly, to a variety of posttranslational modifications. In this review we will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding proteasome participation in the control of cell cycle, apoptosis, differentiation, modulation of immune responses, reprogramming of these particles during these processes, their heterogeneity and involvement in the main levels of gene expression.