Cullin 3 mediates SRC-3 ubiquitination and degradation to control the retinoic acid response

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Dec 20;108(51):20603-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1102572108. Epub 2011 Dec 6.

Abstract

SRC-3 is an important coactivator of nuclear receptors including the retinoic acid (RA) receptor α. Most of SRC-3 functions are facilitated by changes in the posttranslational code of the protein that involves mainly phosphorylation and ubiquitination. We recently reported that SRC-3 is degraded by the proteasome in response to RA. Here, by using an RNAi E3-ubiquitin ligase entry screen, we identified CUL-3 and RBX1 as components of the E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in the RA-induced ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of SRC-3. We also show that the RA-induced ubiquitination of SRC-3 depends on its prior phosphorylation at serine 860 that promotes binding of the CUL-3-based E3 ligase in the nucleus. Finally, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and degradation of SRC-3 cooperate to control the dynamics of transcription. In all, this process participates to the antiproliferative effect of RA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Chromatin / chemistry
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3 / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tretinoin / chemistry*
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry*

Substances

  • CUL3 protein, human
  • Chromatin
  • Cullin Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • Tretinoin
  • NCOA3 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3