Quality control of a transcriptional regulator by SUMO-targeted degradation

Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Apr;29(7):1694-706. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01470-08. Epub 2009 Jan 12.

Abstract

Slx5 and Slx8 are heterodimeric RING domain-containing proteins that possess SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) activity in vitro. Slx5-Slx8 and its orthologs are proposed to target SUMO conjugates for ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, but the only in vivo substrate identified to date is mammalian PML, and the physiological importance of SUMO-targeted ubiquitylation remains largely unknown. We previously identified mutations in SLX5 and SLX8 by selecting for suppressors of a temperature-sensitive allele of MOT1, which encodes a regulator of TATA-binding protein. Here, we demonstrate that Mot1 is SUMOylated in vivo and that disrupting the Slx5-Slx8 pathway by mutation of the target lysines in Mot1, by deletion of SLX5 or the ubiquitin E2 UBC4, or by inhibition of the proteosome suppresses mot1-301 mutant phenotypes and increases the stability of the Mot1-301 protein. The Mot1-301 mutant protein is targeted for proteolysis by SUMOylation to a much greater extent than wild-type Mot1, suggesting a quality control mechanism. In support of this idea, growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of the arginine analog canavanine results in increased SUMOylation and Slx5-Slx8-mediated degradation of wild-type Mot1. These results therefore demonstrate that Mot1 is an in vivo STUbL target in yeast and suggest a role for SUMO-targeted degradation in protein quality control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Canavanine / pharmacology
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational* / drug effects
  • Protein Stability / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity / drug effects
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / chemistry
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic* / drug effects
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Mutant Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Ubiquitin
  • Canavanine
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • MOT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA Helicases