Mechanism of Ψ-Pro/C-degron recognition by the CRL2FEM1B ubiquitin ligase

Xinyan Chen, Anat Raiff, Shanshan Li, Qiong Guo, Jiahai Zhang, Hualin Zhou, Richard T. Timms, Xuebiao Yao, Stephen J. Elledge, Itay Koren, Kaiming Zhang, Chao Xu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The E3 ligase-degron interaction determines the specificity of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system. We recently discovered that FEM1B, a substrate receptor of Cullin 2-RING ligase (CRL2), recognizes C-degrons containing a C-terminal proline. By solving several cryo-EM structures of CRL2FEM1B bound to different C-degrons, we elucidate the dimeric assembly of the complex. Furthermore, we reveal distinct dimerization states of unmodified and neddylated CRL2FEM1B to uncover the NEDD8-mediated activation mechanism of CRL2FEM1B. Our research also indicates that, FEM1B utilizes a bipartite mechanism to recognize both the C-terminal proline and an upstream aromatic residue within the substrate. These structural findings, complemented by in vitro ubiquitination and in vivo cell-based assays, demonstrate that CRL2FEM1B-mediated polyubiquitination and subsequent protein turnover depend on both FEM1B-degron interactions and the dimerization state of the E3 ligase complex. Overall, this study deepens our molecular understanding of how Cullin-RING E3 ligase substrate selection mediates protein turnover.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3558
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 Apr 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanism of Ψ-Pro/C-degron recognition by the CRL2FEM1B ubiquitin ligase'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this