PCNA-dependent ubiquitination of Cdt1 and p21 in mammalian cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1170:367-82. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0888-2_19.

Abstract

PCNA is a DNA clamp, acting on chromatin as a platform for various proteins involved in many aspects of DNA replication-linked processes. Most of these proteins have the PCNA-interaction protein motif (PIP box) that associates with PCNA. Recent works show that PCNA plays an important role as a matchmaker, connecting PCNA-interacting proteins to the ubiquitin ligase CRL4(Cdt2) for their degradation. Proteins degraded by CRL4(Cdt2) include Cdt1, p21, and Set8 in mammalian cells. These CRL4(Cdt2) substrates have a PIP degron that consists of the canonical PIP-box sequence and additional conserved amino acids required for ubiquitination. The degradation of these proteins is triggered when PCNA is loaded onto chromatin at the onset of S phase, and this process is important to prevent re-replication of DNA. These CRL4(Cdt2) substrates are also degraded through the same mechanism in response to DNA damage. In this chapter, we describe several approaches to investigate how PIP degron-containing proteins are degraded in a PCNA-dependent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism*
  • DNA Replication
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Insecta
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / genetics
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / metabolism*
  • Proteolysis
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • CDT1 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases