The BTB protein MEL-26 is a substrate-specific adaptor of the CUL-3 ubiquitin-ligase

Pintard, L. et al. (2003) The BTB protein MEL-26 is a substrate-specific adaptor of the CUL-3 ubiquitin-ligase. Nature, 425(6955), pp. 311-316. (doi: 10.1038/nature01959) (PMID:13679921)

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Abstract

Many biological processes, such as development and cell cycle progression are tightly controlled by selective ubiquitin-dependent degradation of key substrates. In this pathway, the E3-ligase recognizes the substrate and targets it for degradation by the 26S proteasome. The SCF (Skp1–Cul1–F-box) and ECS (Elongin C–Cul2–SOCS box) complexes are two well-defined cullin-based E3-ligases1, 2, 3. The cullin subunits serve a scaffolding function and interact through their C terminus with the RING-finger-containing protein Hrt1/Roc1/Rbx1, and through their N terminus with Skp1 or Elongin C, respectively. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the ubiquitin-ligase activity of the CUL-3 complex is required for degradation of the microtubule-severing protein MEI-1/katanin at the meiosis-to-mitosis transition4. However, the molecular composition of this cullin-based E3-ligase is not known. Here we identified the BTB-containing protein MEL-26 as a component required for degradation of MEI-1 in vivo. Importantly, MEL-26 specifically interacts with CUL-3 and MEI-1 in vivo and in vitro, and displays properties of a substrate-specific adaptor. Our results suggest that BTB-containing proteins may generally function as substrate-specific adaptors in Cul3-based E3-ubiquitin ligases.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Kurz, Dr Thimo
Authors: Pintard, L., Willis, J. H., Willems, A., Johnson, J.-L. F., Srayko, M., Kurz, T., Glaser, S., Mains, P. E., Tyers, M., Bowerman, B., and Peter, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:Nature
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:0028-0836
ISSN (Online):1476-4687
Published Online:03 September 2003

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