p53 and TFIIEalpha share a common binding site on the Tfb1/p62 subunit of TFIIH.

The general transcription factor IIH is recruited to the transcription preinitiation complex through an interaction between its p62/Tfb1 subunit and the alpha-subunit of the general transcription factor IIE (TFIIEalpha). We have determined that the acidic carboxyl terminus of TFIIEalpha (TFIIEalpha(336-439)) directly binds the amino-terminal PH domain of p62/Tfb1 with nanomolar affinity. NMR mapping and mutagenesis studies demonstrate that the TFIIEalpha binding site on p62/Tfb1 is identical to the binding site for the second transactivation domain of p53 (p53 TAD2). In addition, we demonstrate that TFIIEalpha(336-439) is capable of competing with p53 for a common binding site on p62/Tfb1 and that TFIIEalpha(336-439) and the diphosphorylated form (pS46/pT55) of p53 TAD2 have similar binding constants. NMR structural studies reveal that TFIIEalpha(336-439) contains a small domain (residues 395-433) folded in a novel betabetaalphaalphaalpha topology. NMR mapping studies demonstrate that two unstructured regions (residues 377-393 and residues 433-439) located on either side of the folded domain appear to be required for TFIIEalpha(336-439) binding to p62/Tfb1 and that these two unstructured regions are held close to each other in three-dimensional space by the novel structured domain. We also demonstrate that, like p53, TFIIEalpha(336-439) can activate transcription in vivo. These results point to an important interplay between the general transcription factor TFIIEalpha and the tumor suppressor protein p53 in regulating transcriptional activation that may be modulated by the phosphorylation status of p53.

Human recombinant membrane-bound aminopeptidase P: production of a soluble form and characterization using novel, internally quenched fluorescent substrates.

APP (aminopeptidase P) has the unique ability to cleave the N-terminal amino acid residue from peptides exhibiting a proline at P(1)'. Despite its putative involvement in the processing of bioactive peptides, among them the kinins, little is known about the physiological roles of both human forms of APP. The purpose of the present study is first to engineer and characterize a secreted form of hmAPP (human membrane-bound APP). Our biochemical analysis has shown that the expressed glycosylated protein is fully functional, and exhibits enzymic parameters similar to those described previously for mAPP purified from porcine or bovine lungs or expressed from a porcine clone. This soluble form of hmAPP cross-reacts with a polyclonal antiserum raised against a 469-amino-acid hmAPP fragment produced in Escherichia coli. Secondly, we synthesized three internally quenched fluorescent peptide substrates that exhibit a similar affinity for the enzyme than its natural substrates, the kinins, and a higher affinity compared with the tripeptide Arg-Pro-Pro used until now for the quantification of APP in biological samples. These new substrates represent a helpful analytical tool for rapid and reliable screening of patients susceptible to adverse reactions associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or novel vasopeptidase (mixed angiotensin-converting enzyme/neprilysin) inhibitors.

Interplay of Endosomal pH and Ligand Occupancy in Integrin α5ß1 Ubiquitination, Endocytic Sorting, and Cell Migration.

Membrane trafficking of integrins plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation and migration. How endocytosed integrins are targeted either for recycling or lysosomal delivery is not fully understood. Here, we show that fibronectin (FN) binding to α5ß1 integrin triggers ubiquitination and internalization of the receptor complex. Acidification facilitates FN dissociation from integrin α5ß1 in vitro and in early endosomes, promoting receptor complex deubiquitination by the USP9x and recycling to the cell surface. Depending on residual ligand occupancy of receptors, some α5ß1 integrins remain ubiquitinated and are captured by ESCRT-0/I, containing histidine domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (HD-PTP) and ubiquitin-associated protein 1 (UBAP1), and are directed for lysosomal proteolysis, limiting receptor downstream signaling and cell migration. Thus, HD-PTP or UBAP1 depletion confers a pro-invasive phenotype. Thus, pH-dependent FN-integrin dissociation and deubiquitination of the activated integrin α5ß1 are required for receptor resensitization and cell migration, representing potential targets to modulate tumor invasiveness.