DDB2, the xeroderma pigmentosum group E gene product, is directly ubiquitylated by Cullin 4A-based ubiquitin ligase complex

DNA Repair (Amst). 2005 May 2;4(5):537-45. doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2004.12.012.

Abstract

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genetic disease characterized by hypersensitivity to UV irradiation and high incidence of skin cancer caused by inherited defects in DNA repair. Mutational malfunction of damaged-DNA binding protein 2 (DDB2) causes the XP complementation group E (XP-E). DDB2 together with DDB1 comprises a heterodimer called DDB complex, which is involved in damaged-DNA binding and nucleotide excision repair. Interestingly, by screening for a cellular protein(s) that interacts with Cullin 4A (Cul4A), a key component of the ubiquitin ligase complex, we identified DDB1. Immunoprecipitation confirmed that Cul4A interacts with DDB1 and also associates with DDB2. To date, it has been reported that DDB2 is rapidly degraded after UV irradiation and that overproduction of Cul4A stimulates the ubiquitylation of DDB2 in the cells. However, as biochemical analysis using pure Cul4A-containing E3 is missing, it is still unknown whether the Cul4A complex directly ubiquitylates DDB2 or not. We thus purified the Cul4A-containing E3 complex to near homogeneity and attempted to ubiquitylate DDB2 in vitro. The ubiquitylation of DDB2 was reconstituted using this pure E3 complex, indicating that DDB-Cul4A E3 complex in itself can ubiquitylate DDB2 directly. We also showed that an amino acid substitution, K244E, in DDB2 derived from a XP-E patient did not affect its ubiquitylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cullin Proteins / genetics
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / metabolism*
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum / genetics*
  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum / metabolism

Substances

  • CUL4A protein, human
  • Cullin Proteins
  • DDB1 protein, human
  • DDB2 protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes