Driving E3 Ligase Substrate Specificity for Targeted Protein Degradation: Lessons from Nature and the Laboratory.

Methods to direct the degradation of protein targets with proximity-inducing molecules that coopt the cellular degradation machinery are advancing in leaps and bounds, and diverse modalities are emerging. The most used and well-studied approach is to hijack E3 ligases of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. E3 ligases use specific molecular recognition to determine which proteins in the cell are ubiquitinated and degraded. This review focuses on the structural determinants of E3 ligase recruitment of natural substrates and neo-substrates obtained through monovalent molecular glues and bivalent proteolysis-targeting chimeras. We use structures to illustrate the different types of substrate recognition and assess the basis for neo-protein-protein interactions in ternary complex structures. The emerging structural and mechanistic complexity is reflective of the diverse physiological roles of protein ubiquitination. This molecular insight is also guiding the application of structure-based design approaches to the development of new and existing degraders as chemical tools and therapeutics.

Ubiquitin Ligase COP1 Suppresses Neuroinflammation by Degrading c/EBPß in Microglia.

Dysregulated microglia are intimately involved in neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, but the mechanisms controlling pathogenic microglial gene expression remain poorly understood. The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (c/EBPß) regulates pro-inflammatory genes in microglia and is upregulated in AD. We show expression of c/EBPß in microglia is regulated post-translationally by the ubiquitin ligase COP1 (also called RFWD2). In the absence of COP1, c/EBPß accumulates rapidly and drives a potent pro-inflammatory and neurodegeneration-related gene program, evidenced by increased neurotoxicity in microglia-neuronal co-cultures. Antibody blocking studies reveal that neurotoxicity is almost entirely attributable to complement. Remarkably, loss of a single allele of Cebpb prevented the pro-inflammatory phenotype. COP1-deficient microglia markedly accelerated tau-mediated neurodegeneration in a mouse model where activated microglia play a deleterious role. Thus, COP1 is an important suppressor of pathogenic c/EBPß-dependent gene expression programs in microglia.

Mechanism of Cross-talk between H2B Ubiquitination and H3 Methylation by Dot1L.

Methylation of histone H3 K79 by Dot1L is a hallmark of actively transcribed genes that depends on monoubiquitination of H2B K120 (H2B-Ub) and is an example of histone modification cross-talk that is conserved from yeast to humans. We report here cryo-EM structures of Dot1L bound to ubiquitinated nucleosome that show how H2B-Ub stimulates Dot1L activity and reveal a role for the histone H4 tail in positioning Dot1L. We find that contacts mediated by Dot1L and the H4 tail induce a conformational change in the globular core of histone H3 that reorients K79 from an inaccessible position, thus enabling this side chain to insert into the active site in a position primed for catalysis. Our study provides a comprehensive mechanism of cross-talk between histone ubiquitination and methylation and reveals structural plasticity in histones that makes it possible for histone-modifying enzymes to access residues within the nucleosome core.

The Ubiquitin System, Autophagy, and Regulated Protein Degradation.

This brief disquisition about the early history of studies on regulated protein degradation introduces several detailed reviews about the ubiquitin system and autophagy.

Proteasomal and Autophagic Degradation Systems.

Autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system are the two major quality control pathways responsible for cellular homeostasis. As such, they provide protection against age-associated changes and a plethora of human diseases. Ubiquitination is utilized as a degradation signal by both systems, albeit in different ways, to mark cargoes for proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. Both systems intersect and communicate at multiple points to coordinate their actions in proteostasis and organelle homeostasis. This review summarizes molecular details of how proteasome and autophagy pathways are functionally interconnected in cells and indicates common principles and nodes of communication that can be therapeutically exploited.

Mechanisms of Deubiquitinase Specificity and Regulation.

Protein ubiquitination is one of the most powerful posttranslational modifications of proteins, as it regulates a plethora of cellular processes in distinct manners. Simple monoubiquitination events coexist with more complex forms of polyubiquitination, the latter featuring many different chain architectures. Ubiquitin can be subjected to further posttranslational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation and acetylation) and can also be part of mixed polymers with ubiquitin-like modifiers such as SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) or NEDD8 (neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 8). Together, cellular ubiquitination events form a sophisticated and versatile ubiquitin code. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) reverse ubiquitin signals with equally high sophistication. In this review, we conceptualize the many layers of specificity that DUBs encompass to control the ubiquitin code and discuss examples in which DUB specificity has been understood at the molecular level. We further discuss the many mechanisms of DUB regulation with a focus on those that modulate catalytic activity. Our review provides a framework to tackle lingering questions in DUB biology.

Ubiquitin Ligases: Structure, Function, and Regulation.

Ubiquitin E3 ligases control every aspect of eukaryotic biology by promoting protein ubiquitination and degradation. At the end of a three-enzyme cascade, ubiquitin ligases mediate the transfer of ubiquitin from an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme to specific substrate proteins. Early investigations of E3s of the RING (really interesting new gene) and HECT (homologous to the E6AP carboxyl terminus) types shed light on their enzymatic activities, general architectures, and substrate degron-binding modes. Recent studies have provided deeper mechanistic insights into their catalysis, activation, and regulation. In this review, we summarize the current progress in structure-function studies of ubiquitin ligases as well as exciting new discoveries of novel classes of E3s and diverse substrate recognition mechanisms. Our increased understanding of ubiquitin ligase function and regulation has provided the rationale for developing E3-targeting therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases.

Defining a Cancer Dependency Map.

Most human epithelial tumors harbor numerous alterations, making it difficult to predict which genes are required for tumor survival. To systematically identify cancer dependencies, we analyzed 501 genome-scale loss-of-function screens performed in diverse human cancer cell lines. We developed DEMETER, an analytical framework that segregates on- from off-target effects of RNAi. 769 genes were differentially required in subsets of these cell lines at a threshold of six SDs from the mean. We found predictive models for 426 dependencies (55%) by nonlinear regression modeling considering 66,646 molecular features. Many dependencies fall into a limited number of classes, and unexpectedly, in 82% of models, the top biomarkers were expression based. We demonstrated the basis behind one such predictive model linking hypermethylation of the UBB ubiquitin gene to a dependency on UBC. Together, these observations provide a foundation for a cancer dependency map that facilitates the prioritization of therapeutic targets.

Principles of Ubiquitin-Dependent Signaling.

Ubiquitylation is an essential posttranslational modification that controls cell division, differentiation, and survival in all eukaryotes. By combining multiple E3 ligases (writers), ubiquitin-binding effectors (readers), and de-ubiquitylases (erasers) with functionally distinct ubiquitylation tags, the ubiquitin system constitutes a powerful signaling network that is employed in similar ways from yeast to humans. Here, we discuss conserved principles of ubiquitin-dependent signaling that illustrate how this posttranslational modification shapes intracellular signaling networks to establish robust development and homeostasis throughout the eukaryotic kingdom.

Lysosomal damage sensing and lysophagy initiation by SPG20-ITCH.

Cells respond to lysosomal membrane permeabilization by membrane repair or selective macroautophagy of damaged lysosomes, termed lysophagy, but it is not fully understood how this decision is made. Here, we uncover a pathway in human cells that detects lipid bilayer perturbations in the limiting membrane of compromised lysosomes, which fail to be repaired, and then initiates ubiquitin-triggered lysophagy. We find that SPG20 binds the repair factor IST1 on damaged lysosomes and, importantly, integrates that with the detection of damage-associated lipid-packing defects of the lysosomal membrane. Detection occurs via sensory amphipathic helices in SPG20 before rupture of the membrane. If lipid-packing defects are extensive, such as during lipid peroxidation, SPG20 recruits and activates ITCH, which marks the damaged lysosome with lysine-63-linked ubiquitin chains to initiate lysophagy and thus triages the lysosome for destruction. With SPG20 being linked to neurodegeneration, these findings highlight the relevance of a coordinated lysosomal damage response for cellular homeostasis.

Breaking the chains: deubiquitylating enzyme specificity begets function.

The deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs, also known as deubiquitylases or deubiquitinases) maintain the dynamic state of the cellular ubiquitome by releasing conjugated ubiquitin from proteins. In light of the many cellular functions of ubiquitin, DUBs occupy key roles in almost all aspects of cell behaviour. Many DUBs show selectivity for particular ubiquitin linkage types or positions within ubiquitin chains. Others show chain-type promiscuity but can select a distinct palette of protein substrates via specific protein-protein interactions established through binding modules outside of the catalytic domain. The ubiquitin chain cleavage mode or chain linkage specificity has been related directly to biological functions. Examples include regulation of protein degradation and ubiquitin recycling by the proteasome, DNA repair pathways and innate immune signalling. DUB cleavage specificity is also being harnessed for analysis of ubiquitin chain architecture that is assembled on specific proteins. The recent development of highly specific DUB inhibitors heralds their emergence as a new class of therapeutic targets for numerous diseases.

Ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation driven by C-degron pathways.

Although most eukaryotic proteins are targeted for proteasomal degradation by ubiquitination, a subset have been demonstrated to undergo ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation (UbInPD). However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms driving UbInPD and the degrons involved. Utilizing the GPS-peptidome approach, a systematic method for degron discovery, we found thousands of sequences that promote UbInPD; thus, UbInPD is more prevalent than currently appreciated. Furthermore, mutagenesis experiments revealed specific C-terminal degrons required for UbInPD. Stability profiling of a genome-wide collection of human open reading frames identified 69 full-length proteins subject to UbInPD. These included REC8 and CDCA4, proteins which control proliferation and survival, as well as mislocalized secretory proteins, suggesting that UbInPD performs both regulatory and protein quality control functions. In the context of full-length proteins, C termini also play a role in promoting UbInPD. Finally, we found that Ubiquilin family proteins mediate the proteasomal targeting of a subset of UbInPD substrates.

Mechanism of Lys6 poly-ubiquitin specificity by the L. pneumophila deubiquitinase LotA.

The versatility of ubiquitination to control vast domains of eukaryotic biology is due, in part, to diversification through differently linked poly-ubiquitin chains. Deciphering signaling roles for some chain types, including those linked via K6, has been stymied by a lack of specificity among the implicated regulatory proteins. Forged through strong evolutionary pressures, pathogenic bacteria have evolved intricate mechanisms to regulate host ubiquitin during infection. Herein, we identify and characterize a deubiquitinase domain of the secreted effector LotA from Legionella pneumophila that specifically regulates K6-linked poly-ubiquitin. We demonstrate the utility of LotA for studying K6 poly-ubiquitin signals. We identify the structural basis of LotA activation and poly-ubiquitin specificity and describe an essential "adaptive" ubiquitin-binding domain. Without LotA activity during infection, the Legionella-containing vacuole becomes decorated with K6 poly-ubiquitin as well as the AAA ATPase VCP/p97/Cdc48. We propose that LotA's deubiquitinase activity guards Legionella-containing vacuole components from ubiquitin-dependent extraction.

Quality Control: Maintaining molecular order and preventing cellular chaos.

We asked experts from different fields-from genome maintenance and proteostasis to organelle degradation via ubiquitin and autophagy-"What does quality control mean to you?" Despite their diverse backgrounds, they converge on and discuss the importance of continuous quality control at all levels, context, communication, timing, decisions on whether to repair or remove, and the significance of dysregulated quality control in disease.

Linkage reprogramming by tailor-made E3s reveals polyubiquitin chain requirements in DNA-damage bypass.

A polyubiquitin chain can adopt a variety of shapes, depending on how the ubiquitin monomers are joined. However, the relevance of linkage for the signaling functions of polyubiquitin chains is often poorly understood because of our inability to control or manipulate this parameter in vivo. Here, we present a strategy for reprogramming polyubiquitin chain linkage by means of tailor-made, linkage- and substrate-selective ubiquitin ligases. Using the polyubiquitylation of the budding yeast replication factor PCNA in response to DNA damage as a model case, we show that altering the features of a polyubiquitin chain in vivo can change the fate of the modified substrate. We also provide evidence for redundancy between distinct but structurally similar linkages, and we demonstrate by proof-of-principle experiments that the method can be generalized to targets beyond PCNA. Our study illustrates a promising approach toward the in vivo analysis of polyubiquitin signaling.

Bacterial lipids earmarked with ubiquitin for pathogen clearance.

As a component of cell-autonomous immunity, cytosolic bacterial invaders are earmarked with the protein modifier ubiquitin for targeted xenophagic destruction. Otten et al. (2021) reveal that unique bacterial lipids are unconventional sites for ubiquitination and initiate downstream pathogen clearance.

A comprehensive phenotypic CRISPR-Cas9 screen of the ubiquitin pathway uncovers roles of ubiquitin ligases in mitosis.

The human ubiquitin proteasome system, composed of over 700 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and deubiquitinases (DUBs), has been difficult to characterize systematically and phenotypically. We performed chemical-genetic CRISPR-Cas9 screens to identify E3s/DUBs whose loss renders cells sensitive or resistant to 41 compounds targeting a broad range of biological processes, including cell cycle progression, genome stability, metabolism, and vesicular transport. Genes and compounds clustered functionally, with inhibitors of related pathways interacting similarly with E3s/DUBs. Some genes, such as FBXW7, showed interactions with many of the compounds. Others, such as RNF25 and FBXO42, showed interactions primarily with a single compound (methyl methanesulfonate for RNF25) or a set of related compounds (the mitotic cluster for FBXO42). Mutation of several E3s with sensitivity to mitotic inhibitors led to increased aberrant mitoses, suggesting a role for these genes in cell cycle regulation. Our comprehensive CRISPR-Cas9 screen uncovered 466 gene-compound interactions covering 25% of the interrogated E3s/DUBs.

Molecular basis for recognition of Gly/N-degrons by CRL2ZYG11B and CRL2ZER1.

N-degron pathways are a set of proteolytic systems that target the N-terminal destabilizing residues of substrates for proteasomal degradation. Recently, the Gly/N-degron pathway has been identified as a new branch of the N-degron pathway. The N-terminal glycine degron (Gly/N-degron) is recognized by ZYG11B and ZER1, the substrate receptors of the Cullin 2-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL2). Here we present the crystal structures of ZYG11B and ZER1 bound to various Gly/N-degrons. The structures reveal that ZYG11B and ZER1 utilize their armadillo (ARM) repeats forming a deep and narrow cavity to engage mainly the first four residues of Gly/N-degrons. The α-amino group of the Gly/N-degron is accommodated in an acidic pocket by five conserved hydrogen bonds. These structures, together with biochemical studies, decipher the molecular basis for the specific recognition of the Gly/N-degron by ZYG11B and ZER1, providing key information for future structure-based chemical probe design.

Timer-based proteomic profiling of the ubiquitin-proteasome system reveals a substrate receptor of the GID ubiquitin ligase.

Selective protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is involved in all cellular processes. However, the substrates and specificity of most UPS components are not well understood. Here we systematically characterized the UPS in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using fluorescent timers, we determined how loss of individual UPS components affects yeast proteome turnover, detecting phenotypes for 76% of E2, E3, and deubiquitinating enzymes. We exploit this dataset to gain insights into N-degron pathways, which target proteins carrying N-terminal degradation signals. We implicate Ubr1, an E3 of the Arg/N-degron pathway, in targeting mitochondrial proteins processed by the mitochondrial inner membrane protease. Moreover, we identify Ylr149c/Gid11 as a substrate receptor of the glucose-induced degradation-deficient (GID) complex, an E3 of the Pro/N-degron pathway. Our results suggest that Gid11 recognizes proteins with N-terminal threonines, expanding the specificity of the GID complex. This resource of potential substrates and relationships between UPS components enables exploring functions of selective protein degradation.

GID E3 ligase supramolecular chelate assembly configures multipronged ubiquitin targeting of an oligomeric metabolic enzyme.

How are E3 ubiquitin ligases configured to match substrate quaternary structures? Here, by studying the yeast GID complex (mutation of which causes deficiency in glucose-induced degradation of gluconeogenic enzymes), we discover supramolecular chelate assembly as an E3 ligase strategy for targeting an oligomeric substrate. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures show that, to bind the tetrameric substrate fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (Fbp1), two minimally functional GID E3s assemble into the 20-protein Chelator-GIDSR4, which resembles an organometallic supramolecular chelate. The Chelator-GIDSR4 assembly avidly binds multiple Fbp1 degrons so that multiple Fbp1 protomers are simultaneously ubiquitylated at lysines near the allosteric and substrate binding sites. Importantly, key structural and biochemical features, including capacity for supramolecular assembly, are preserved in the human ortholog, the CTLH E3. Based on our integrative structural, biochemical, and cell biological data, we propose that higher-order E3 ligase assembly generally enables multipronged targeting, capable of simultaneously incapacitating multiple protomers and functionalities of oligomeric substrates.