The human homologue of the yeast polyubiquitination factor Ufd2p is cleaved by caspase 6 and granzyme B during apoptosis Journal Article


Authors: Mahoney, J. A.; Odin, J. A.; White, S. M.; Shaffer, D.; Koff, A.; Casciola-Rosen, L.; Rosen, A.
Article Title: The human homologue of the yeast polyubiquitination factor Ufd2p is cleaved by caspase 6 and granzyme B during apoptosis
Abstract: In the present study, we demonstrate that a human homologue of Ufd2p (a yeast protein that catalyses the formation of long polyubiquitin chains, and is implicated in responses to environmental stress), UFD2 (ubiquitin fusion degradation protein2), is cleaved during apoptosis induced by multiple stimuli, including UVB irradiation, Fas ligation, staurosporine treatment and cytotoxic lymphocyte granule-induced death. Caspase 6 and granzyme B efficiently cleave UFD2 [k(cat)/K-m = (4-5) x 10(4) M-1.s(-1)] at Asp(123), whereas caspases 3 and 7 cleave UFD2 approx. 10-fold less efficiently immediately upstream at Asp(109). Thus UFD2 is added to the growing list of proteins with closely spaced caspase and granzyme B cleavage sites, suggesting the presence of a previously unrecognized, conserved motif. Both cleavage sites are contained and conserved within a novel 300-amino-acid N-terminal domain present in apparent UFD2 orthologues in mice and zebrafish, but absent in all UFD2 family members in lower eukaryotes. Full-length recombinant UFD2 exhibited ubiquitin-protein ligase ('E3')-like ubiquitination activity in vitro, but this activity was abolished in recombinant UFD2 truncated at the granzyme B/caspase 6 cleavage site. Cleavage of UFD2 by caspases or granzyme B within this putative regulatory N-terminal domain might have important functional consequences within the apoptotic cascade.
Keywords: ubiquitin; proteasome; ubiquitination; autoantigen; autoimmunity; family; cell-death; activation; pathway; initiation; specificities; members; granule pathway; u box
Journal Title: Biochemical Journal
Volume: 361
Issue: Pt. 3
ISSN: 0264-6021
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd  
Date Published: 2002-02-01
Start Page: 587
End Page: 595
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:000173982700019
DOI: 10.1042/0264-6021:3610587
PROVIDER: wos
PMCID: PMC1222341
PUBMED: 11802788
Notes: Article -- 3 -- Source: Wos
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  1. Andrew C Koff
    110 Koff
  2. David R Shaffer
    25 Shaffer