Apoptosis induction by Bid requires unconventional ubiquitination and degradation of its N-terminal fragment

Tait, S.W.G. , de Vries, E., Maas, C., Keller, A.M., D'Santos, C.S. and Borst, J. (2007) Apoptosis induction by Bid requires unconventional ubiquitination and degradation of its N-terminal fragment. Journal of Cell Biology, 179(7), pp. 1453-1466. (doi: 10.1083/jcb.200707063)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200707063

Abstract

Bcl-2 family member Bid is subject to autoinhibition; in the absence of stimuli, its N-terminal region sequesters the proapoptotic Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain. Upon proteolytic cleavage in its unstructured loop, Bid is activated, although structural data reveal no apparent resulting conformational change. We found that, upon Bid cleavage, the N-terminal fragment (tBid-N) is ubiquitinated and degraded, thus freeing the BH3 domain in the C-terminal fragment (tBid-C). Ubiquitination of tBid-N is unconventional because acceptor sites are neither lysines nor the N terminus. Chemical approaches implicated thioester and hydroxyester linkage of ubiquitin and mutagenesis implicated serine and possibly threonine as acceptor residues in addition to cysteine. Acceptor sites reside predominantly but not exclusively in helix 1, which is required for ubiquitination and degradation of tBid-N. Rescue of tBid-N from degradation blocked Bid's ability to induce mitochondrial outer membrane permeability but not mitochondrial translocation of the cleaved complex. We conclude that unconventional ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of tBid-N is required to unleash the proapoptotic activity of tBid-C.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tait, Professor Stephen
Authors: Tait, S.W.G., de Vries, E., Maas, C., Keller, A.M., D'Santos, C.S., and Borst, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Journal of Cell Biology
Journal Abbr.:J Cell Biol
ISSN:0021-9525
ISSN (Online):1540-8140

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