Allosteric regulation of E2:E3 interactions promote a processive ubiquitination machine

EMBO J. 2013 Sep 11;32(18):2504-16. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2013.174. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

Abstract

RING finger proteins constitute the large majority of ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and function by interacting with ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) charged with ubiquitin. How low-affinity RING-E2 interactions result in highly processive substrate ubiquitination is largely unknown. The RING E3, gp78, represents an excellent model to study this process. gp78 includes a high-affinity secondary binding region for its cognate E2, Ube2g2, the G2BR. The G2BR allosterically enhances RING:Ube2g2 binding and ubiquitination. Structural analysis of the RING:Ube2g2:G2BR complex reveals that a G2BR-induced conformational effect at the RING:Ube2g2 interface is necessary for enhanced binding of RING to Ube2g2 or Ube2g2 conjugated to Ub. This conformational effect and a key ternary interaction with conjugated ubiquitin are required for ubiquitin transfer. Moreover, RING:Ube2g2 binding induces a second allosteric effect, disrupting Ube2g2:G2BR contacts, decreasing affinity and facilitating E2 exchange. Thus, gp78 is a ubiquitination machine where multiple E2-binding sites coordinately facilitate processive ubiquitination.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation / physiology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination / physiology*

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • UBE2G2 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • AMFR protein, human
  • Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor