A tri-ionic anchor mechanism drives Ube2N-specific recruitment and K63-chain ubiquitination in TRIM ligases.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 31582740.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-019-12388-y and PMC identifier 6776665.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The cytosolic antibody receptor TRIM21 possesses unique ubiquitination activity that drives broad-spectrum anti-pathogen targeting and underpins the protein depletion technology Trim-Away. This activity is dependent on formation of self-anchored, K63-linked ubiquitin chains by the heterodimeric E2 enzyme Ube2N/Ube2V2. Here we reveal how TRIM21 facilitates ubiquitin transfer and differentiates this E2 from other closely related enzymes. A tri-ionic motif provides optimally distributed anchor points that allow TRIM21 to wrap an Ube2N~Ub complex around its RING domain, locking the closed conformation and promoting ubiquitin discharge. Mutation of these anchor points inhibits ubiquitination with Ube2N/Ube2V2, viral neutralization and immune signalling. We show that the same mechanism is employed by the anti-HIV restriction factor TRIM5 and identify spatially conserved ionic anchor points in other Ube2N-recruiting RING E3s. The tri-ionic motif is exclusively required for Ube2N but not Ube2D1 activity and provides a generic E2-specific catalysis mechanism for RING E3s.
Medical subject headings
- Lysine
- Ribonucleoproteins
- Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
- Ubiquitination