Deubiquitination complex platform:A plausible mechanism for regulating the substrate specificity of deubiquitinating enzymes

Deubiquitinating enzymes(DUBs) or deubiquitinases facilitate the escape of multiple proteins from ubiquitin-proteasome degradation and are critical for regulating protein expression levels in vivo.Therefore,dissecting the underlying mechanism of DUB recognition is needed to advance the development of drugs related to DUB signaling pathways.To data,extensive studies on the ubiquitin chain specificity of DUBs have been reported,but substrate protein recognition is still not clearly understood.As a breakthrough,the scaffolding role may be significant to substrate protein selectivity.From this perspective,we systematically characterized the scaffolding proteins and complexes contributing to DUB substrate selectivity.Furthermore,we proposed a deubiquitination complex platform(DCP) as a potentially generic mechanism for DUB substrate recognition based on known examples,which might fill the gaps in the understanding of DUB substrate specificity.

Role of deubiquitinating enzymes in DNA double-strand break repair

DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. It is essential for maintaining accurate transmission of genetic information. In the life cycle, DNA replication, cell division, or genome damage, including that caused by endogenous and exogenous agents, may cause DNA aberrations. Of all forms of DNA damage, DNA double-strand breaks(DSBs) are the most serious. If the repair function is defective, DNA damage may cause gene mutation, genome instability, and cell chromosome loss, which in turn can even lead to tumorigenesis. DNA damage can be repaired through multiple mechanisms. Homologous recombination(HR) and non-homologous end joining(NHEJ) are the two main repair mechanisms for DNA DSBs. Increasing amounts of evidence reveal that protein modifications play an essential role in DNA damage repair.Protein deubiquitination is a vital post-translational modification which removes ubiquitin molecules or polyubiquitinated chains from substrates in order to reverse the ubiquitination reaction. This review discusses the role of deubiquitinating enzymes(DUBs) in repairing DNA DSBs. Exploring the molecular mechanisms of DUB regulation in DSB repair will provide new insights to combat human diseases and develop novel therapeutic approaches.

The Role of CYLD in Blocking Oncogenic Cell Signaling in Melanoma

Dysregulation of components of the ubiqutin system has been linked to many diseases including melanoma. This is vital since the post-translational modification of different proteins via direct ubiquitin attachment is an important process for various cellular processes. CYLD is a tumor suppressor gene and deubiquitinating enzyme, which can remove polyubiquitin chains from their specific substrate and interfere with different signaling pathways. CYLD is frequently downregulated or even lost in melanoma cell lines or tissues compared to melanocytes. Down-regulation of CYLD leads to sustained oncogenic signaling that promotes melanoma progression and metastasis. In this review, we summarize the recent insights into the mechanisms which are responsible for the down-regulation of CYLD levels in melanoma and the signaling interactions of the CYLD gene product in melanoma. We argue that these recent insights into CYLD function invite the development of novel molecular strategies for melanoma prevention and treatment.

Novel mutations in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 gene might cause spermatogenesis impairment and male infertility

Aim： To study the incidence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene and its involvement in idiopathic male infertility in China. Methods： Routine semen analysis was performed. Infertility factors such as immunological, infectious and biochemical disorders were examined to select patients with idiopathic infertility. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of the selected patients and control population, which were examined for mutations using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences were sequenced in some patients and controls. Results： Of 41 infertile men, 9 （22.0%, P = 0.01） had changes in USP26 gene on the X chromosome. A compound mutation （364insACA; 460G→A） was detected in 8 patients （19.5%, P = 0.01） and a 1044T→A substitution was found in 1 patient （2.4%, P 〉 0.05）. All three variations led to changes in the coding amino acids. Two substitutions predict some changes： 460G→ A changes a valine into an isoleucine, and 1044T → A substitutes a leucine for a phenylalanine. Another insertion of three nucleotides ACA causes an insertion of threonine. No other changes were found in the remaining patients and fertile controls. Conclusion： The USP26 gene might be of importance in male reproduction. Mutations in this gene might be associated with male infertility, and might negatively affect testicular function. Further research on this issue is in progress.

The expression of Usp26 gene in mouse testis and brain

Deubiquitinating enzymes （DUBs） play an important role in ubiquitin-dependent processes as negative regulators of protein ubiquitination. Ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） is a member of this family. The expression of Usp26 in mammalian testis and in other tissues has yet to be fully elucidated. To study the expression of Usp26 mRNA and protein in various murine tissues, reverse transcription （RT）-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses were carried out. The RT-PCR analysis showed that the Usp26 transcript was expressed in all of the tested tissues. USP26 protein localization was examined by immunohistochemistry, and it was shown that USP26 was not detectable at 20 days postpartum, with the expression restricted to the cytoplasm of condensing spermatids （steps 9-16）, Leydig cells and nerve fibers in the brain. In addition, the USP26 protein was detected at moderate levels in myocardial ceils, the corpus of epidydimis, epithelium of the renal tubules and the seminal gland of postnatal day 35 mice. Its spatial and temporal expression pattern suggests that Usp26 may play an important role in development or function of the testis and brain. Further research into these possibilities is in progress.

Semi-synthesis of biotin-bearing activity-based ubiquitin probes through sequential enzymatic ligation,N-S acyl transfer and aminolysis reaction

Activity-based Ubiquitin probes(Ub-ABPs)carrying a reporter group have emerged as effective tools for the investigation of deubiquitinating enzymes(DUBs),such as studying the molecular mechanism of DUBs,profiling new DUBs.But so far,the synthesis of commonly used biotin-bearing Ub-ABPs is a technical challenge.Here,we report a one-pot semi-synthetic strategy for the acquiring of Ub-ABPs carrying a biotin tag through sequential enzymatic ligation,N-S acyl transfer and aminolysis reaction without any purification steps.These probes enable to capture the different family of DUBs for enrichment and immunoblotting using the attached biotin tag.

USP19 suppresses inflammation and promotes M2-like macrophage polarization by manipulating NLRP3 function via autophagy

Macrophage polarization to proinflammatory M1-like or anti-inflammatory M2-like cells is critical to mount a host defense or repair tissue.The exact molecular mechanisms controlling this process are still elusive.Here,we report that ubiquitin-specific protease 19(USP19)acts as an anti-inflammatory switch that inhibits inflammatory responses and promotes M2-like macrophage polarization.USP19 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by increasing autophagy flux and decreasing the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.In addition,USP19 inhibited the proteasomal degradation of inflammasome-independent NLRP3 by cleaving its polyubiquitin chains.USP19-stabilized NLRP3 promoted M2-like macrophage polarization by direct association with interferon regulatory factor 4,thereby preventing its p62-mediated selective autophagic degradation.Consistent with these observations,compared to wild-type mice,Usp19−/−mice had decreased M2-like macrophage polarization and increased interleukin-1βsecretion,in response to alum and chitin injections.Thus,we have uncovered an unexpected mechanism by which USP19 switches the proinflammatory function of NLRP3 into an anti-inflammatory function,and suggest that USP19 is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory interventions.

MCP-1-induced protein-1,an immune regulator

MCP-1-induced protein-1(MCPIP1)is a newly identified protein that is crucial to immune regulation.Mice lack-ing MCPIP1 gene suffer from severe immune disorders,and most of them cannot survive longer than 12 weeks.Considerable progress has been made in revealing the mechanism underlying the immune regulatory function of MCPIP1.MCPIP1 can act as an RNase to promote the mRNA degradation of some inflammatory cytokines,such as IL-6 and IL-1.Pre-microRNAs are also confirmed to be the substrate of MCPIP1 RNase.The structure of MCPIP1 N-terminal conserved domain shows a PilT N-terminus-like RNase structure,further supporting the notion that MCPIP1 has RNase activity.MCPIP1 can also deubiquitinate TNF receptor-associated factor family proteins,which are known to mediate immune and inflammatory responses.In this review,we summarize recent progress on the immune regulatory role of MCPIP1 and discuss the mechanisms underlying its function.

Writing and erasing MYC ubiquitination and SUMOylation

The transcription factor c-MYC(MYC thereafter)controls diverse transcription programs and plays a key role in the development of many human cancers.Cells develop multiple mechanisms to ensure that MYC levels and activity are precisely controlled in normal physiological context.As a short half-lived protein,MYC protein levels are tightly regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system.Over a dozen of ubiquitin ligases have been found to ubiquitinate MYC whereas a number of deubiquitinating enzymes counteract this process.Recent studies show that SUMOylation and deSUMOylation can also regulate MYC protein stability and activity.Interestingly,evidence suggests an intriguing crosstalk between MYC ubiquitination and SUMOylation.Deregulation of the MYC ubiquitination-SUMOylation regulatory network may contribute to tumorigenesis.This review is intended to provide the current understanding of the complex regulation of the MYC biology by dynamic ubiquitination and SUMOylation and their crosstalk.

Chemical synthesis of Ub-AMC via ligation of peptide hydrazides

The C-terminal conjugate of ubiquitin with 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin （Ub-AMC） is an important probe for fluorescencebased analysis of deubiquitinating enzyme （DUB） activity. It is important to develop more efficient methods for the preparation of Ub-AMC because the currently available technology is still expensive for scaled-up production. In the present work we report an efficient strategy for total chemical synthesis of Ub-AMC through ligation of peptide hydrazides. Three peptide segments are assembled via N-to-C sequential ligation and the resulting product is converted to Ub-AMC via TCEP-mediated desulfurization. The synthetic Ub-AMC is shown to have expected biological functions throug

Inactivity of YGL082W in vitro due to impairment of conformational change in the catalytic center loop

MINDY-1 is a recently discovered new family of deubiquitinating enzymes(DUB),but one of its yeast homologs,YGL082 W,does not show any DUB activity in vitro.Sequence alignment shows that YGL082 W possesses the correct catalytic triad,and yet did not catalyze either the hydrolysis of di-ubiquitin,crosslinking with C-terminally propargylated ubiquitin,or hydrolysis of ubiquitin-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin.After obtaining a crystal structure of the catalytic domain of YGL082 W,we identified an interesting difference between the catalytic center loop of YGL082 W and that of its human homolog MINDY-1.Because the conformation of the catalytic center loop was previously reported to be important for the deubiquitination activity of MINDY-1,we hypothesized that Glu27(instead of the corresponding Pro136 in MINDY-1) of the catalytic center loop of YGL082 W may impair the conformational change and account for the lack of activity.This hypothesis was supported by homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations,which showed that the Pro-to-Glu mutation(P136 E mutation for MINDY-1) creates a hydrogen bond that inhibits the conformation change of the catalytic center loop of MINDY-1.Further experiments through site-directed mutation validated this hypothesis,showing that the P27 E mutation caused MIY1(a homologous active DUB from yeast) to lose activity.