Deubiquitination of NF-κB by Ubiquitin-Specific Protease-7 promotes transcription

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jan 8;110(2):618-23. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1208446110. Epub 2012 Dec 24.

Abstract

NF-κB is the master regulator of the immune response and is responsible for the transcription of hundreds of genes controlling inflammation and immunity. Activation of NF-κB occurs in the cytoplasm through the kinase activity of the IκB kinase complex, which leads to translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus. Once in the nucleus, NF-κB transcriptional activity is regulated by DNA binding-dependent ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation. We have identified the deubiquitinase Ubiquitin Specific Protease-7 (USP7) as a regulator of NF-κB transcriptional activity. USP7 deubiquitination of NF-κB leads to increased transcription. Loss of USP7 activity results in increased ubiquitination of NF-κB, leading to reduced promoter occupancy and reduced expression of target genes in response to Toll-like- and TNF-receptor activation. These findings reveal a unique mechanism controlling NF-κB activity and demonstrate that the deubiquitination of NF-κB by USP7 is critical for target gene transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology*
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Peptides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • USP7 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7