Internally tagged ubiquitin: a tool to identify linear polyubiquitin-modified proteins by mass spectrometry

Nat Methods. 2017 May;14(5):504-512. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.4228. Epub 2017 Mar 20.

Abstract

Ubiquitination controls a plethora of cellular processes. Modifications by linear polyubiquitin have so far been linked with acquired and innate immunity, lymphocyte development and genotoxic stress response. Until now, a single E3 ligase complex (LUBAC), one specific deubiquitinase (OTULIN) and a very few linear polyubiquitinated substrates have been identified. Current methods for studying lysine-based polyubiquitination are not suitable for the detection of linear polyubiquitin-modified proteins. Here, we present an approach to discovering linear polyubiquitin-modified substrates by combining a lysine-less internally tagged ubiquitin (INT-Ub.7KR) with SILAC-based mass spectrometry. We applied our approach in TNFα-stimulated T-REx HEK293T cells and validated several newly identified linear polyubiquitin targets. We demonstrated that linear polyubiquitination of the novel LUBAC substrate TRAF6 is essential for NFκB signaling.

MeSH terms

  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Polyubiquitin / genetics
  • Polyubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Signal Transduction
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Tifab protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Polyubiquitin
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Endopeptidases
  • OTULIN protein, human