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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 278, Issue 24, 21323-21326, June 13, 2003
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ACCELERATED PUBLICATIONS






¶
From the
Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel,
Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen H-4012, Hungary
Received for publication, March 4, 2003
, and in revised form, April 16, 2003.
| ABSTRACT |
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| INTRODUCTION |
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| EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES |
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Construction of Expression VectorsA plasmid encoding a truncated EGFR (EGFR-
C) was prepared by introducing a STOP codon after amino acid 1087. The EGFR-
C4R mutant was generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Vectors expressing EGFR::Ub chimeras were prepared by overlap extension PCR and mutations introduced. HA-tagged ubiquitin, either WT or K0, was subcloned into pEFIRES. Bacterial expression vectors for wild type (His)6HA-Ub and (His)6HA-Ub-K0 were obtained by subcloning into the pET28 plasmid (Novagen). Recombinant ubiquitins were subsequently affinity-purified on Ni2+-conjugated agarose beads.
Transient Transfection, Immunoprecipitation, and ImmunoblottingTransfections were carried out using 1 µg of DNA of each expression vector, and the total amount of DNA normalized with the respective empty plasmid. Cells were assayed 48 h after transfection. Whole cell lysates were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, either directly or after immunoprecipitation, and protein bands detected with an enhanced chemiluminescence reagent.
In Vitro Ubiquitylation AssayReceptor immunoprecipitates were extensively washed and resuspended in ubiquitylation buffer (40 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM MgCl2, and 2 mM dithiothreitol) supplemented with 2 mM ATP, and containing either rabbit reticulocyte lysate (1 µl) or recombinant E1 (0.1 µg) and E2 (UbcH5C; 7 µl of crude bacterial extract). Wild type or mutant (His)6HA-tagged ubiquitin (0.5 µg) and GST-Cbl (0.1 µg) were added as indicated. Reaction mixtures were incubated for 1 h at 30 °C.
ImmunofluorescenceCy3-labeled Fab (20 µg/ml) was incubated with cells at 4 °C for 90 min. Thereafter, cells were transferred to 37 °C for the indicated time intervals before fixation and visualization. Alternatively, paraformaldehyde-fixed cells were permeabilized for 10 min at 22 °C with phosphate-buffered saline containing 1% albumin and 0.2% Triton X-100. For labeling, cells were incubated for 1 h with an anti-EGFR antibody and after extensive washes incubated for an additional hour with a Cy3-conjugated donkey anti-mouse F(ab)2. Alternatively, coverslips were co-incubated with monoclonal anti-HA and anti-EEA1 antibodies, washed thoroughly, and incubated with a Cy3-conjugated donkey anti-rat F(ab)2 and a Cy2-conjugated donkey anti-mouse F(ab)2.
| RESULTS |
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Polymerization of ubiquitin on a substrate utilizes certain lysines as branching sites (reviewed in Ref. 1). Therefore, to determine whether c-Cbl possesses mono- or polyubiquitylating activity, we compared the in vitro modifying capacity of wild type ubiquitin (WT-Ub) with that of Ub-K0 that, by definition, is unable to form polymeric chains. Both forms were expressed in bacteria and included as the sole source of ubiquitin in reconstituted reactions containing an isolated EGFR. Surprisingly, upon co-incubation with a bacterially expressed c-Cbl, both WT-Ub and Ub-K0 reproduced similar patterns that, according to the observed molecular shift, corresponded primarily to a monoubiquitylated EGFR (Fig. 1B). Hence, the results suggest that c-Cbl is equipped with an intrinsic monoubiquitylating, rather than polyubiquitylating, activity.
An Internalization-defective Mutant of EGFR Acquires Rapid Endocytosis and Degradation When Fused to a Single UbiquitinWe predicted that once EGFR is tagged by a single molecule of ubiquitin, it will be sorted for endocytosis even when coupling to c-Cbl is not permitted. To test this prediction we utilized an internalization-defective mutant of EGFR, incapable of direct c-Cbl binding (EGFR-Y1045F (15)). A single copy of ubiquitin was fused to the carboxyl terminus of Y1045F-EGFR, but to prevent formation of covalent adducts, we replaced the terminal glycine (Ub-G76), or both glycine 75 and glycine 76 (Ub-2GA) with alanines. Cell-surface biotinylation assays confirmed maturation and delivery of both parental and chimeric receptor forms to the plasma membrane (Fig. 2A). In unstimulated cells EGFR-Y1045F is not ubiquitylated (15) and, consistent with previous studies, was found predominantly at the plasma membrane (Fig. 2B). In contrast, EGFR-Y1045F::Ub-G76A localized primarily to structures resembling endosomes. Indeed, co-staining of EGFR-Y1045F::Ub-G76A and the early endosomal marker, EEA1 (16), revealed a highly significant degree of co-localization (Fig. 2C).
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To track endocytosis of EGFR and yet avoid ligand- or antibody-induced internalization, we used a fluorescently labeled monovalent fragment of an anti-EGFR antibody (528-Fab). First, this analysis left out the possibility that EGFR::Ub chimeras, like some lysosomal enzymes (5, 6), reach endosomal structures directly from the biosynthetic pathway. Second, when cells were preincubated on ice with 528-Fab and then transferred to 37 °C, we noted different kinetics of internalization; unlike EGFR-Y1045F, which remained largely at the cell surface and started appearing in intracellular vesicles only after 20 min (Fig. 2D), some chimeric receptors translocated into endosomes already 5 min after transfer to 37 °C, and their endocytosis peaked at 10 min. In line with different endocytic behavior, metabolic labeling showed the chimeras to be degraded considerably more rapidly than EGFR-Y1045F in the absence of EGF (Fig. 2E). These results imply that monoubiquitylation is sufficient for internalization of EGFR, and together with the data presented in Fig. 1, they suggest that Cbl-mediated tagging of monomeric ubiquitins sorts active receptors to degradation.
Decoration of EGFR with Monoubiquitins, Not Polyubiquitins, Is Sufficient for Ligand-induced Receptor Degradation
The observed difference between c-Cbl's activity in isolation (monoubiquitylation) and in cells (multi- or polyubiquitylation) implies recruitment of a collaborating activity. Hence, we compared ubiquitylation of EGFR in the presence of recombinant E1 and E2 or a crude mixture of cellular factors (namely, reticulocyte lysate). Analysis under electrophoretic conditions aimed at resolving ubiquitylated species detected a significantly higher ladder of EGFR when incubated with c-Cbl and reticulocyte lysate (Fig. 3A). The smeary pattern was particularly detectable by anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, indicating selectivity to active receptors. Furthermore, replacing wild type ubiquitin with a Ub-K0 did not change the ubiquitylation pattern (Fig. 3B). Conceivably, Cbl-induced monoubiquitylation of phosphorylated EGFRs is followed by recruitment of unknown effectors, which mediate additional monoubiquitylation.
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To resolve whether EGFR ubiquitylation in cells entails monomeric or polymeric ubiquitin, we utilized a series of ubiquitin mutants with individual lysine-to-arginine substitutions at known sites for chain branching in vivo (lysines 11, 29, 48, and 63 (1, 17)). Preliminary analyses indicated that the ectopic ubiquitin attained a >10-fold excess over the endogenous molecule 18 h after transfection. Under these conditions all four mutants, namely K11R, K29R, K48R, and K63R, reconstituted similar patterns of ligand-induced EGFR ubiquitylation as wild-type ubiquitin (Fig. 3C and data not shown). Furthermore, no mutant inhibited or delayed EGF-induced degradation of EGFR, and hence, none of the tested lysines appears to be involved in ubiquitin chain branching. To consolidate this conclusion, reciprocal experiments were performed using Ub-K0. When overexpressed, this mutant acts as a terminator of ubiquitin polymerization. However, Ub-K0 expressing cells effectively incorporated the mutant form of ubiquitin into EGFR molecules, which retained their normal ubiquitylation pattern (Fig. 3C). As expected, when tested in conjunction with
-catenin, a well characterized substrate of polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation, Ub-K0 abolished the typical ladder of ubiquitylated
-catenin (data not shown). Moreover, add-back mutants derived from Ub-K0 underwent comparable conjugation to EGFR, and even though they limited the extent of receptor degradation compared with WT-Ub, none extended or enhanced the ladder of ubiquitylated EGFRs (Fig. 3C and data not shown). In conclusion, because all lysine mutants of ubiquitin coherently generated a pattern consistent with multiubiquitylation, these results reinforce a role for monoubiquitin in sorting EGFR to endocytosis.
Multiubiquitylation Confined to the Kinase Domain of EGFR Is Sufficient for Receptor DegradationThe results presented suggest that multiubiquitylation of EGFR is preceded by a monoubiquitylating event. In an attempt to map the putative site, we generated a truncation mutant containing lysines only within its kinase domain (EGFR-
C4R; Fig. 4A), a region essential for c-Cbl recruitment (12). In vitro, EGFR-
C4R, like wild-type EGFR, underwent c-Cbl-mediated monoubiquitylation (Fig. 4B), raising the possibility that the kinase domain may be specifically targeted by c-Cbl. Testing EGFR-
C4R in living CHO cells lent support to this assignment. First, the EGFR-
C4R mutant, like the wild type receptor, underwent weak monoubiquitylation in unstimulated cells (Fig. 4C). Furthermore, regardless of its smaller number of potential acceptor sites, EGFR-
C4R underwent EGF-induced multiubiquitylation, and its degradation was accelerated by EGF and c-Cbl (Fig. 4C). Subsequent kinetic experiments, which are not presented, showed that both forms of EGFR underwent comparably rapid ubiquitylation, in support of the possibility that a kinase domain lysine serves as a founder monoubiquitylation site.
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| DISCUSSION |
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Considering the ability of a single ubiquitin to drive receptor endocytosis, it is worthwhile asking why EGFR is multi-ubiquitylated? For one, multiple monomers may confer resistance to inhibition by deubiquitylating enzymes. Alternatively, successive monoubiquitylation may increase the avidity of EGFR binding to adaptors like Eps15 (10). Last, multiubiquitylation rather than polyubiquitylation may confer to EGFR refractoriness to the 26S proteasome. Notably, both endocytic adaptors (20) and one of the ubiquitin-binding proteasomal subunits (21) utilize UIMs to recognize their cargoes and substrates. Hence, in the endosomal pathway, the intrinsic inability of c-Cbl to attach more than one ubiquitin to EGFR and to subsequently polymerize ubiquitin may suffice the endocytic machinery while evading degradation by proteasomes. Consistent with a mechanism that evades the proteasome, c-Cbl undergoes self-ubiquitylation with no associated proteasomal degradation (22). Hence, the E3 ligase activity of c-Cbl may be confined to monoubiquitylation. This issue and the possibility that other E3 ligases complement the action of c-Cbl toward the EGFR are matters for future investigation.
| FOOTNOTES |
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¶ To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: 972-8-9343974; Fax: 972-8-9342488; E-mail: yosef.yarden{at}weizmann.ac.il.
1 The abbreviations used are: UIM, ubiquitin-interacting motif; CHO, Chinese hamster ovary; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; HA, hemagglutinin; Ub-K0, a lysine-less ubiquitin; RTK, receptor tyrosine kinase; WT, wild type; GST, glutathione S-transferase; E1, ubiquitin-activating enzyme; E2, ubiquitin carrier protein; E3, ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase. ![]()
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| REFERENCES |
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