Ubiquitination directly enhances activity of the deubiquitinating enzyme ataxin-3.
Journal Article
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) control the ubiquitination status of proteins in various cellular pathways. Regulation of the activity of DUBs, which is critically important to cellular homoeostasis, can be achieved at the level of gene expression, protein complex formation, or degradation. Here, we report that ubiquitination also directly regulates the activity of a DUB, ataxin-3, a polyglutamine disease protein implicated in protein quality control pathways. Ubiquitination enhances ubiquitin (Ub) chain cleavage by ataxin-3, but does not alter its preference for K63-linked Ub chains. In cells, ubiquitination of endogenous ataxin-3 increases when the proteasome is inhibited, when excess Ub is present, or when the unfolded protein response is induced, suggesting that the cellular functions of ataxin-3 in protein quality control are modulated through ubiquitination. Ataxin-3 is the first reported DUB in which ubiquitination directly regulates catalytic activity. We propose a new function for protein ubiquitination in regulating the activity of certain DUBs and perhaps other enzymes.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Todi, SV; Winborn, BJ; Scaglione, KM; Blount, JR; Travis, SM; Paulson, HL
Published Date
- February 18, 2009
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 28 / 4
Start / End Page
- 372 - 382
PubMed ID
- 19153604
Pubmed Central ID
- 19153604
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1460-2075
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1038/emboj.2008.289
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England