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Polynucleotide ligase activity in cells infected with simian virus 40, polyoma virus, or vaccinia virus.

The conversion of simian virus 40 (SV40) component II deoxyribonucleic acid to component I has been used to assay polynucleotide ligase in extracts of tissue culture cells. All cell types examined, including chicken, hamster, mouse, monkey, and human cells, contained adenosine triphosphate-dependent ligase. After infection of mouse embryo, monkey kidney, and HeLa cells with polyoma virus, SV40, and vaccinia virus, respectively, the enzyme activity increased, but its cofactor requirement was unchanged. In vaccinia virus-infected cells, the increased activity was localized in the cytoplasm. Ligase induction occurred in the presence of cytosine arabinoside but was prevented by puromycin. Rifampicin blocked the production of infectious vaccinia particles but had little effect on the induction of ligase.

Animals↗

Mms2-Ubc13-dependent and -independent roles of Rad5 ubiquitin ligase in postreplication repair and translesion DNA synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Rad6-Rad18 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae promotes replication through DNA lesions via three separate pathways that include translesion synthesis (TLS) by DNA polymerases eta and zeta and postreplicational repair (PRR) of discontinuities that form in the newly synthesized DNA opposite from DNA lesions, mediated by the Mms2-Ubc13 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme and Rad5. Rad5 is an SWI/SNF family ATPase, and additionally, it functions as a ubiquitin ligase in the ubiquitin conjugation reaction. To decipher the roles of these Rad5 activities in lesion bypass, here we examine the effects of mutations in the Rad5 ATPase and ubiquitin ligase domains on the PRR of UV-damaged DNA and on UV-induced mutagenesis. Even though the ATPase-defective mutation confers only a modest degree of UV sensitivity whereas the ubiquitin ligase mutation causes a high degree of UV sensitivity, we find that both of these mutations produce the same high level of PRR defect as that conferred by the highly UV-sensitive rad5Delta mutation. From these studies, we infer a requirement of the Rad5 ATPase and ubiquitin ligase activities in PRR, and based upon the effects of different rad5 mutations on UV mutagenesis, we suggest a role for Rad5 in affecting the efficiency of lesion bypass by the TLS polymerases. In contrast to the role of Rad5 in PRR, however, where its function is coupled with that of Mms2-Ubc13, Rad5 function in TLS would be largely independent of this ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme complex.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Human MMS21/NSE2 is a SUMO ligase required for DNA repair.

DNA repair is required for the genomic stability and well-being of an organism. In yeasts, a multisubunit complex consisting of SMC5, SMC6, MMS21/NSE2, and other non-SMC proteins is required for DNA repair through homologous recombination. The yeast MMS21 protein is a SUMO ligase. Here we show that the human homolog of MMS21 is also a SUMO ligase. hMMS21 stimulates sumoylation of hSMC6 and the DNA repair protein TRAX. Depletion of hMMS21 by RNA interference (RNAi) sensitizes HeLa cells toward DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Ectopic expression of wild-type hMMS21, but not its ligase-inactive mutant, rescues this hypersensitivity of hMMS21-RNAi cells. ATM/ATR are hyperactivated in hMMS21-RNAi cells upon DNA damage. Consistently, hMMS21-RNAi cells show an increased number of phospho-CHK2 foci. Finally, we show that hMMS21-RNAi cells show a decreased capacity to repair DNA lesions as measured by the comet assay. Our findings suggest that the human SMC5/6 complex and the SUMO ligase activity of hMMS21 are required for the prevention of DNA damage-induced apoptosis by facilitating DNA repair in human cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coenzyme A ligases involved in anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds.

Bacterial strains and consortia of bacteria have been isolated for their ability to degrade, under anaerobic conditions, homocyclic monoaromatic compounds, such as phenolic compounds, methylbenzenes, and aminobenzenes. As opposed to aerobic conditions where these compounds are degraded via dihydroxyl intermediates introduced by oxygenases, most of aromatic compounds under anaerobic conditions are metabolized via aromatic acid intermediates, such as nitrobenzoates, hydroxybenzoates, or phenylacetate. These aromatic acids are then transformed to benzoate before the reduction and the cleavage of the benzene ring to aliphatic acid products. One step of these catabolic pathways is the addition of a coenzyme A (CoA) residue to the carboxylic group of the aromatic acids by CoA ligases. This addition would facilitate the enzymatic transformation of the aromatic acids to benzoyl-CoA and the subsequent degradation steps of this latter molecule. Aromatic acid-CoA ligases have been characterized or detected from several bacterial strains that were grown under anaerobic conditions and from an anaerobic syntrophic consortium. They are also involved in the degradation of some aromatic compounds under aerobic conditions. They have molecular masses varying between 48 and 61 kDa, require ATP, Mg2+, and CoASH as cofactors, and have an optimum pH of 8.2-9.3. Amino acid sequence analyses of four aromatic acid-CoA ligases have revealed that they are related to an AMP-binding protein family. Aromatic acid-CoA ligases expressed in anaerobically grown bacterial cells are strictly regulated by the anaerobic conditions and the presence of aromatic cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multiple domains in Siz SUMO ligases contribute to substrate selectivity.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two Siz/PIAS SUMO E3 ligases, Siz1 and Siz2/Nfi1, and one other known ligase, Mms21. Although ubiquitin ligases are highly substrate-specific, the degree to which SUMO ligases target distinct sets of substrates is unknown. Here we show that although Siz1 and Siz2 each have unique substrates in vivo, sumoylation of many substrates can be stimulated by either protein. Furthermore, in the absence of both Siz proteins, many of the same substrates are still sumoylated at low levels. Some of this residual sumoylation depends on MMS21. Siz1 targets its unique substrates through at least two distinct domains. Sumoylation of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and the splicing factor Prp45 requires part of the N-terminal region of Siz1, the ;PINIT' domain, whereas sumoylation of the bud neck-associated septin proteins Cdc3, Cdc11 and Shs1/Sep7 requires the C-terminal domain of Siz1, which is also sufficient for cell cycle-dependent localization of Siz1 to the bud neck. Remarkably, the non-sumoylated septins Cdc10 and Cdc12 also undergo Siz1-dependent sumoylation if they are fused to the short PsiKXE SUMO attachment-site sequence. Collectively, these results suggest that local concentration of the E3, rather than a single direct interaction with the substrate polypeptide, is the major factor in substrate selectivity by Siz proteins.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

An RNA ligase-mediated method for the efficient creation of large, synthetic RNAs.

RNA ligation has been a powerful tool for incorporation of cross-linkers and nonnatural nucleotides into internal positions of RNA molecules. The most widely used method for template-directed RNA ligation uses DNA ligase and a DNA splint. While this method has been used successfully for many years, it suffers from a number of drawbacks, principally, slow and inefficient product formation and slow product release, resulting in a requirement for large quantities of enzyme. We describe an alternative technique catalyzed by T4 RNA ligase instead of DNA ligase. Using a splint design that allows the ligation junction to mimic the natural substrate of RNA ligase, we demonstrate several ligation reactions that appear to go nearly to completion. Furthermore, the reactions generally go to completion within 30 min. We present data evaluating the relative importance of various parameters in this reaction. Finally, we show the utility of this method by generating a 128-nucleotide pre-mRNA from three synthetic oligoribonucleotides. The ability to ligate synthetic or in vitro transcribed RNA with high efficiency has the potential to open up areas of RNA biology to new functional and biophysical investigation. In particular, we anticipate that site-specific incorporation of fluorescent dyes into large RNA molecules will yield a wealth of new information on RNA structure and function.

Genetic Techniques↗

A novel E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAC-1 positively regulates T cell activation.

TRAC-1 (T cell RING (really interesting new gene) protein identified in activation screen) is a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase identified from a retroviral vector-based T cell surface activation marker screen. The C-terminal truncated TRAC-1 specifically inhibited anti-TCR-mediated CD69 up-regulation in Jurkat cells, a human T leukemic cell line. In this study, we show that TRAC-1 is a RING finger ubiquitin E3 ligase with highest expression in lymphoid tissues. Point mutations that disrupt the Zn(2+)-chelating ability of its amino-terminal RING finger domain abolished TRAC-1's ligase activity and the dominant inhibitory effect of C-terminal truncated TRAC-1 on TCR stimulation. The results of in vitro biochemical studies indicate that TRAC-1 can stimulate the formation of both K48- and K63-linked polyubiquitin chains and therefore could potentially activate both degradative and regulatory ubiquitin-dependent pathways. Antisense oligonucleotides to TRAC-1 specifically reduced TRAC-1 mRNA levels in Jurkat and primary T cells and inhibited their activation in response to TCR cross-linking. Collectively, these results indicate that the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAC-1 functions as a positive regulator of T cell activation.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

A novel E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate screen identifies Rho guanine dissociation inhibitor as a substrate of gene related to anergy in lymphocytes.

Ubiquitination of eukaryotic proteins regulates a broad range of cellular processes, including regulation of T cell activation and tolerance. We have previously demonstrated that gene related to anergy in lymphocytes (GRAIL), a ring finger ubiquitin E3 ligase, is required for the induction of T cell anergy; however, the substrate(s) for GRAIL E3 ligase activity is/are unknown. In this study, we report a novel prokaryotic system developed to screen for substrates of E3 ligases. Using this screen, Rho guanine dissociation inhibitor (RhoGDI) was identified as a potential substrate of GRAIL. GRAIL was subsequently demonstrated to bind and ubiquitinate RhoGDI, although GRAIL-mediated ubiquitination of RhoGDI did not result in proteosomal degradation. Expression of GRAIL in T cells resulted in specific inhibition of RhoA GTPase activation; activation of Rac1, cdc42, and Ras GTPases were not affected. Interestingly, stable T cell lines expressing dominant-negative RhoA mimicked the GRAIL-mediated IL-2 inhibition phenotype, and T cells expressing constitutively active RhoA were able to overcome GRAIL-mediated inhibition of IL-2 expression. These findings validate our prokaryotic screen as a method of identifying substrates for ubiquitin E3 ligases and suggest a role for Rho effector molecules in T cell anergy.

Biological Assay↗

Recruiting substrates to cullin 4-dependent ubiquitin ligases by DDB1.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the major pathway by which cells target proteins for degradation in a specific manner. The E3 ubiquitin ligase, which brings targeted proteins (substrates) and activated ubiquitin in close proximity, enabling covalent conjugation of ubiquitin to the substrate, is an essential component of this system. Of the E3 ligases, the cullin (CUL) ligases are of high interest because of their capacity to form multiple distinct E3 complexes to ubiquitinate a potentially large number of substrates. Of the six closely related cullins, very little is known about how specific substrates are recruited to CUL4-dependent ligases. A recent paper in Nature Cell Biology may shed some light on this issue as well as on the function of DDB1, a damaged-DNA binding protein that has long been associated with DNA repair.

Animals↗

A deoxyribonucleic acid ligase from nuclei of rat liver. Purification and properties.

A DNA ligase has been extensively purified from nuclei of rat livers. The ligase seals single strand nicks in DNA with any of the four usual bases on either the 3 or 5 sides. It requires ATP and a divalent cation (Mg-2plus or Mn-2plus) for activity. At low Mg-2plus concentrations the activity is greatly stimulated by a variety of monovalent cations. Relatively small excesses of either monovalent or divalent cation above the amounts which give maximal activity lead to inhibition of activity. Poly(G) and poly(I) inhibit ligase activity; several other polyribonucleotides are not inhibitory. Low concentrations of inorganic pyrophosphate are inhibitory. The molecular weight of the ligase is estimated from gel filtration to be about 10 times 10-4.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Subcellular localization of 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy- and 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoyl-coenzyme A ligase(s) in rat liver.

Liver peroxisomes from both rat and humans have previously been shown to contain enzymes that catalyze the oxidative cleavage of the C27-steroid side chain in the formation of bile acids. It has not been clear, however, whether the initial step, formation of the CoA-esters of the 5 beta-cholestanoic acids, also occurs in these organelles. In the present work the subcellular localization of 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoyl-CoA (THCA-CoA) ligase (THCA-CoA synthetase) and of 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoyl-CoA (DHCA-CoA) ligase in rat liver has been investigated. Main subcellular fractions and peroxisome-rich density gradient fractions from rat liver were incubated with THCA or DHCA, CoA, ATP, and Mg2+. Formation of THCA-CoA and DHCA-CoA was determined after high pressure liquid chromatography of the incubation extracts. The microsomal fraction contained the highest specific (and also relative specific) activity both for the formation of THCA-CoA and DHCA-CoA. The rates of THCA-CoA formation were further increased from 124-159 nmol/mg.hr-1 in crude microsomal fractions to 184-220 nmol/mg.hr-1 when studied in purified rough endoplasmic reticulum fractions. Formation of THCA-CoA in peroxisomal fractions prepared in Nycodenz density gradients could be accounted for by a small contamination (3-7%) by microsomal protein. The distribution of THCA-CoA ligase was different from that of palmitoyl-CoA ligase that was found to be localized also to the peroxisomal fractions.

Animals↗

[Modification of RNA ligase histidine residues by diethylpyrocarbonate].

The practicality of Tris-HCl buffer for modification of histidine residues by diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) was studied using a model protein-hexokinase. It was found that modification was selective at pH 7.5. Conditions for modification of one histidine residue in the protein molecule were specified. In 30 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 7.5, 10-min interaction of RNA-ligase with 0.3 mM DEPC was accompanied by modification of one histidine residue, as a result of which the ability to form a covalent AMP-RNA-ligase complex decreased 3 times. Modification of two histidine residues of RNA-ligase resulted in a complete loss of the enzyme activity. At increasing DEPC concentration modification affected all of the seven histidine residues of RNA-ligase. The kinetic parameters (Km and V) for the native and modified enzymes were determined and compared.

Diethyl Pyrocarbonate↗

Changes of DNA ligase in developing rat brain.

DNA ligase was isolated from rat brain and characterized. In developing rat brain the DNA ligase activities of the cerebellum increased after birth, at least 5 fold more than those of non-cerebellar parts. The DNA ligase activity in the cerebellum reached a maximum about 6 days after birth and then decreased towards maturation. The DNA ligase from the cerebellum can be fractionated into three molecular forms. Aging of the extracts leads to the conversion of the high molecular weight form into smaller weight forms.

Aging↗

The novel HECT-type ubiquitin-protein ligase Pub2p shares partially overlapping function with Pub1p in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has three putative ubiquitin-protein ligases of the Nedd4/Rsp5 family, named Pub1p, Pub2p and Pub3p. Pub1p has been reported to be involved in cell cycle regulation and proliferation under acidic pH conditions. Here we characterize Pub2p, which contains a conserved HECT domain and a WW domain but lacks a C2 domain. Transcription of the pub2(+) gene was constitutive and further enhanced by nitrogen starvation. A pub2-null mutation gave no remarkable phenotypes, but intensified temperature sensitivity in a pub1Delta background. Moderately overexpressed pub2(+) suppressed the temperature sensitivity of pub1Delta cells, which suggests that the function of Pub2p overlaps with that of Pub1p. Overexpression of pub2(+) by a strong nmt1 promoter in wild-type strains caused growth arrest and cell elongation, probably owing to defects in G2 progression or the G2/M transition. Unlike Pub1p, however, overexpression of Pub2p did not reduce the levels of Cdc25p. Pub2-GFP was found throughout the cell, especially at the cell surface in the polar regions. Pub2p contains a conserved cysteine residue (Cys639) in its putative catalytic HECT domain that can be thiol-ubiquitinated. Substitution of Cys639 by alanine (Pub2CA) caused a functional defect, because growth arrest and cell elongation were not induced by overexpression of Pub2CA. A chimeric Pub1 protein, in which the HECT domain was replaced by the Pub2 HECT domain, completely suppressed the temperature sensitivity of pub1Delta cells, suggesting that the HECT domain of Pub2p has the catalytic activity of a ubiquitin ligase. We conclude that Pub2p is a HECT-type ubiquitin-protein ligase that shares partially overlapping function with Pub1p.

Calcium-Binding Proteins↗

Phosphorylation- and Skp1-independent in vitro ubiquitination of E2F1 by multiple ROC-cullin ligases.

Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis plays a critical role in the control of many cellular processes and is mediated by a cascade of enzymes involving ubiquitin activating (El), conjugating (E2), and ligating (E3) activities. Cullin 1/CDC53 functions as an E3 ligase by interacting with RING finger protein ROC1 and recruiting phosphorylated substrate. We report here that E2F1 transcription factor can be ubiquitinated in vitro and in vivo by multiple ROC-cullin ligases. In vitro, E2F1 can be ubiquitinated by E2/Ubc5 but not by E2/CDC34, is dependent on catalytically active ROC1, and is protected by the Rb protein. In contrast to substrates of the SKP1-Cullin 1-F box (SCF) complexes, in vitro ubiquitination of E2F1 by CUL1-ROC1 ligase does not require E2F1 phosphorylation, is not stimulated by overexpression of F box protein SKP2, and is not affected by immunodepletion of SKP1 or mutations in CUL1 disrupting SKPI binding. These results suggest a novel, SKP1-independent mechanism for targeting E2F1 ubiquitination.

Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome↗

Nedd8-modification of Cul1 is promoted by Roc1 as a Nedd8-E3 ligase and regulates its stability.

SCF is a ubiquitin ligase and is composed of Skp1, Cul1, F-box protein, and Roc1. The catalytic site of the SCF is the Cul1/Roc1 complex and RING-finger protein Roc1. It was shown earlier that when Cul1 was co-expressed with Roc1 in Sf-9 cells in a baculovirus protein expression system, Cul1 was highly neddylated in the cell, suggesting that Roc1 may function as a Nedd8-E3 ligase. However, there is no direct evidence that Roc1 is a Nedd8-E3 in an in vitro enzyme system. Here we have shown that Roc1 binds to Ubc12, E2 for Nedd8, but not to Ubc9, E2 for SUMO-1 and Roc1 RING-finger mutant, H77A, did not bind to Ubc12. In in vitro neddylation system using purified Cul1/Roc1 complex expressed in bacteria, Roc1 promotes neddylation of Cul1. These results demonstrate that Roc1 functions as a Nedd8-E3 ligase toward Cul1. Furthermore, Roc1 and Cul1 were ubiquitinylated in a manner dependent on the neddylation of Cul1 in vitro. In addition, Cul1 was degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and a non-neddylated mutant Cul1, K720R, was more stable than wild-type in intact cells. Thus, neddylation of Cul1 might regulate SCF function negatively via degradation of Cul1/Roc1 complex.

Animals↗

Characterization of the novel E3 ubiquitin ligase encoded in exon 3 of herpes simplex virus-1-infected cell protein 0.

Infected cell protein 0 (ICP0) of herpes simplex virus-1 is a 775-aa residue multifunctional protein that acts as a promiscuous transactivator linked to the degradation of several proteins. ICP0 is the only protein known which encodes two physically separated E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase domains, one, designated herpes virus Ub ligase 1 (HUL-1) located in a domain encoded in exon 3 and one designated herpes virus Ub ligase 2 (HUL-2) associated with the really interesting new gene (RING) finger domain encoded by exon 2. We report the following: (i) ICP0 residues 543-680 are sufficient for HUL-1 E3 activity and necessary determinants are encoded between residues 616 and 680. (ii) In substrate independent in vitro ubiquitylation reactions, a chimeric protein containing the HUL-1 domain promotes the ubiquitylation of itself and the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2) cdc34 and interacts with cdc34. (iii) The mechanism of HUL-1 E3 function does not involve formation of a thioester between the HUL-1 domain and Ub. (iv) Residues 621-625 are essential for in vitro HUL-1 E3 activity and interaction between the HUL-1 domain and cdc34, suggesting that this interaction is required for HUL-1 E3 function.

Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome↗

Ubiquitin ligases in malignant lymphoma.

The highly controlled degradation of proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway represents a key mechanism for cell regulation and homeostasis. Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, carried out in large part by the E3 ubiquitin ligases, is a critical mode of post-translational modification that is important in regulation of cell cycle progression, signal transduction, gene transcription, antigen receptor signaling, immune response and cell differentiation. Recent studies demonstrate that increasing numbers of proteins with ubiquitin ligase activity are being characterized. Identification and characterization of their substrates indicate that they regulate the turnover of key cell cycle proteins (p27Kip1, p21Cip1, p57Kip2, cyclin E), tumor suppressor proteins (p53, RB), signaling kinases (Src, Zap70, PI-3 kinase), apoptosis regulators (Bcl-2, Bax, Bik) and transcription factors (Myc, NF-kappaB, E1F1), all of which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of malignant lymphoma. Studies to determine the functional role of ubiquitin ligases in the pathogenesis of malignant lymphoma represent potential areas of investigation.

Animals↗