Engineered diubiquitin synthesis reveals Lys29-isopeptide specificity of an OTU deubiquitinase

Satpal Virdee, Yu Ye, Duy P. Nguyen, David Komander (Lead / Corresponding author), Jason W. Chin (Lead / Corresponding author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    260 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Ubiquitination is a reversible post-translational modification that regulates a myriad of eukaryotic functions. Our ability to study the effects of ubiquitination is often limited by the inaccessibility of homogeneously ubiquitinated proteins. In particular, elucidating the roles of the so-called 'atypical' ubiquitin chains (chains other than Lys48- or Lys63-linked ubiquitin), which account for a large fraction of ubiquitin polymers, is challenging because the enzymes for their biosynthesis are unknown. Here we combine genetic code expansion, intein chemistry and chemoselective ligations to synthesize 'atypical' ubiquitin chains. We solve the crystal structure of Lys6-linked diubiquitin, which is distinct from that of structurally characterized ubiquitin chains, providing a molecular basis for the different biological functions this linkage may regulate. Moreover, we profile a panel containing 10% of the known human deubiquitinases on Lys6- and Lys29-linked ubiquitin and discover that TRABID cleaves the Lys29 linkage 40-fold more efficiently than the Lys63 linkage.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)750-757
    Number of pages8
    JournalNature Chemical Biology
    Volume6
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Engineered diubiquitin synthesis reveals Lys29-isopeptide specificity of an OTU deubiquitinase'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this