|
Advertisement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 282, Issue 28, 20475-20483, July 13, 2007
The Ubiquitin Ligase SCF(
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ABSTRACT |
|---|
|
|
|---|
XS destruction motif in
-catenin and I
B. We show that the same ligase drives endocytosis and degradation of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) in a ligand-independent fashion. The F-box protein
-TrCP binds directly and specifically with its WD40 domain to a novel recognition motif, previously designated as the ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis motif. Receptor degradation requires an active neddylation system, implicating ubiquitin ligase activity. GHR-TrCP binding, but not GHR ubiquitination, is necessary for endocytosis. TrCP2 silencing is more effective on GHR degradation and endocytosis than TrCP1, although overexpression of either isoform restores TrCP function in silenced cells. Together, these findings provide direct evidence for a key role of the SCF(TrCP) in the endocytosis and degradation of an important factor in growth, immunity, and life span regulation. | INTRODUCTION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
For receptor tyrosine kinases, both signal transduction and receptor abundance are regulated by their ligands: epidermal growth factor, c-kit, insulin and Notch binding initiate not only signal transduction, they also induce a swift degradation of their receptors. For cytokine receptors, these two parameters seem to have their own independent regulating mechanism. There is good evidence that the GH sensitivity of cells is mainly regulated via the ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis motif (UbE motif) in the cytokine receptor box 2 region (6). Mutation of the UbE motif (DDSWVEFIELD) leads to a dramatic drop in endocytosis and lysosomal degradation, rendering the cells more GH-sensitive.
The ubiquitin-proteasome system provides the major pathway for nonlysosomal degradation (reviewed in Ref. 7). The F-box protein
-transducing repeat-containing protein (
TrCP) serves as the substrate recognition subunit in the SCF(
TrCP) ligase (8). Classical examples of substrates are
-catenin, NF
B, and I
B (inhibitor of NF
B). Two isoforms exist;
TrCP1 is mainly present in the nucleus, whereas
TrCP2 resides in the cytosol (9). These ligases play a pivotal role in cell division and various essential signal transduction pathways for tumorigenesis. Their substrate binding motifs consist of seven propeller-shaped WD40 domains that specifically bind short motifs in its central cavity. These motifs generally are 6 amino acid residues long with a common structure of DSGX2+nS. To be recognized by the SCF(
TrCP), both serine residues need to be phosphorylated. Recently, it became evident that, for a restricted number of plasma membrane proteins, ubiquitination triggers internalization and vacuolar/lysosomal rather than proteasomal degradation (reviewed in Ref. 10). This pathway is best understood in yeast, where a number of plasma membrane proteins are endocytosed in an ubiquitin-dependent manner (11, 12). Several studies have shown that monoubiquitination of plasma membrane proteins is sufficient to stimulate their endocytosis (11, 13). In mammalian cells, the GHR, the
-adrenergic receptor, and the epithelial sodium channel, ENaC, are examples of membrane proteins that endocytose in an ubiquitin system-dependent manner (14-16). In some cytokine receptors, the conserved DSGX2+nS motif serves as a degradation signal via the SCF(
TrCP) ligases. Both for the interferon-
and the PrL receptor, it was shown that this E3 is involved in their degradation. An important finding in these studies was that receptor degradation mainly depends on ligand binding; in addition, phosphorylation at both serine residues of the degron was required (17-19).
In the present study, we show that the UbE motif, deviant from the canonical
TrCP recognition motif, is specifically recognized by a functional SCF(
TrCP) complex and that this interaction is instrumental in the endocytosis and degradation of the GHR. Ubiquitination of the GHR is not required, since
TrCP silencing slows degradation of the GHR without lysine residues in the cytosolic tail as efficiently as wild type GHR.
| EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES |
|---|
|
|
|---|
TrCP1 and
TrCP2 cDNA in pcDNA3 expressing the FLAG-tagged proteins were generous gifts of Tomoki Chiba (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science). Full-length rabbit GHR cDNA in pcDNA3 was described (20). GST fusion proteins expressing GST-GHR-(271-334), and GST-GHR-(271-318) were produced as described (21). pcDNA-GHR constructs used for alanine scanning of the UbE motif and GHR-(1-399), K271-362R, designated as GHR399-KallR, were constructed as described before (22). The following siRNA sense sequences were used to silence the following: both
TrCP1 and -2, GUGGAAUUUGUGGAACAUCtt (called "combi probe");
TrCP1 only, GAUAAUACCAGAGAAGAAUtt;
TrCP2 only, GAGGCCAUCAGAAGGAAACtt; clathrin heavy chain, GCAAUGAGCUGUUUGAAGAUU; GFP and HPV E6/E7 (used as controls), GGCUACGUCCAGGAGCGCACC and CUAACUAACACUGGGUUAUtt, respectively. Dharmacon siGENOME SMARTpool's BTRC NM-003939 was used to silence
TrCP1, and FBXW11 (NM-012300) was used to silence
TrCP2. QuikChange mutagenesis primers to introduce three silent mutations in the target sequence of
TrCP1 for combi TrCP, 5'-TGGTCAGAGTCAGATCAAGTGGAGTTCGTCGAACATCTTATATCCCAAATGTG-3', and to introduce three silent mutations in the target sequence of TrCP2 for combi
TrCP, 5'-TGGTCTGAATCAGATCAAGTGGAGTTCGTCGAACATCTTATTTCACGAATGTG-3'. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes were purchased from Ambion (Austin, TX). Antibody, recognizing the cytoplasmic domain of the GHR, was raised against amino acids 271-318 of the cytosolic tail of the GHR (23). Antibody (mAb 5) against the extracellular domain of the GHR was from Agen (Acacia Ridge, Australia), goat anti-mouse IgG Alexa680 was from Molecular Probes, Inc., and goat anti-rabbit IgG IRDye800 was from Rockland Immunochemicals Inc. (Gilbertsville, PA). Mouse monoclonal anti-FLAG (M2) was from Sigma. The polyclonal anti-
TrCP1 serum was raised in rabbits against a
TrCP1 peptide consisting of amino acids 1-93 fused to glutathione S-transferase. The fusion protein was produced by cloning the DNA encoding amino acids 1-93 of TrCP1 into vector pGEX1
t, after which the construct was expressed in Escherichia coli. Immobilized streptavidin was from Pierce, glutathione-Sepharose was from Amersham Biosciences, and Ni2+-nitrilotriacetic acid-agarose was from Qiagen. Culture media, fetal calf serum, L-glutamine, and antibiotics for tissue culture were purchased from Invitrogen. Cell CultureHek293 and ts41 cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (Invitrogen) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 100 units/ml penicillin, and 0.1 mg/ml streptomycin. Hek293 cells stably expressing the wild type GHR (Hek-wtGHR) were grown in the same medium supplemented with 0.6 mg/ml Geneticin (G418; Invitrogen). All cells used were grown at 37 °C with 5.0% CO2. Twice a week, cells were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), detached from the flask with trypsin-EDTA (Invitrogen), diluted in fresh growth medium, and split into new culture flasks.
TransfectionsCells were transfected using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen). Seventy percent confluent cultures were transfected with 0.2-0.9 µg of DNA in 12-well plates according to the manufacturer's protocol. Transfected cells were used for Western blot experiments and 125I-GH binding experiments 1-2 days after transfection. For fluorescence microscopy cells were transfected with Fugene-6 (Roche Applied Science).
To silence the expression of both
TrCPs, Hek-wtGHR cells were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) using Lipofectamine 2000 according to the description of the manufacturer; 3 days after transfection, cells were used for Western blot and 125I-GH binding experiments. Control cells were transfected with siRNA-GFP. To control the effect of the gene expression silencing, Hek293 cells were transiently transfected with a pcDNA3-FLAG-
TrCP. Western blots were analyzed using an Odyssey infrared imaging system (Li-Cor Biosciences, Lincoln, NE).
125I-GH Binding and Internalization125I-Human GH was prepared using chloramine T (20). For internalization experiments, cells, grown in poly-D-lysine-coated 12-well plates, were washed with 1 ml of minimal essential medium supplemented with 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, and 0.1% bovine serum albumin, and incubated at 37 °C in a water bath for 1 h. After washing the cells three times with ice-cold PBS-complete (PBS-c: PBS with 0.135 g/liter CaCl2 and 0.1 g/liter MgCl2), 0.75 ml 125I-GH (180 ng/ml in Mem/Hepes/0.1% bovine serum albumin) was added to the cells. 125I-GH was bound for 2 h on ice. Unbound 125I-GH was aspirated and the cells were washed three times with PBS-c. Cells were incubated 10 min at 37 °C in minimal essential medium, Hepes, 0.1% bovine serum albumin to allow receptor internalization and washed three times with ice-cold PBS-c. Membrane associated 125I-GH was removed by treating the cells twice with 750 µl acid wash (0.15 M NaCl, 50 mM glycine, 0.1% bovine serum albumin, pH 2.5) for 5 min on ice. Acid wash was collected in counting tubes, and radioactivity was measured using a LKB
counter. Cells were solubilized overnight in 1 N NaOH. Internalized 125I-GH was determined by measuring the radioactivity in the collected NaOH. Unspecific counts were determined by incubating the cells with 125I-GH together with excess unlabeled GH (9 µg/ml). Internalization is expressed as a percentage of the total specific radioactivity after 10 min at 37 °C.
In Vitro Binding AssayWild-type and mutant GHR proteins were expressed in Hek293, and the cells were lysed in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 0.15 or 1.0 M NaCl, 50 mM NaF, and 0.5% Nonidet P-40. The receptors were purified with biotinylated GH and streptavidin beads and stringently washed with lysis buffer. The beads were incubated with in vitro translated and 35S-labeled
TrCP2 for 60 min at 4 °C and extensively washed with lysis buffer, and associated proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. cDNA of
TrCP2 constructs in pcDNA3.1/FLAG was used in an in vitro transcription translation system supplemented with [35S]methionine and TNT®-T7 coupled reticulocyte lysate ready reaction mix according to the instructions of the manufacturer (Promega). Binding to GHR-(1-286) was taken as background. To analyze GHR-containing protein complexes at the cell surface, the cells were incubated with biotinylated GH on ice. To recover all GHR-protein complexes from cells, the cells were first lysed and then incubated with biotinylated GH. Equal amounts of cell lysates were incubated for 1 h at 4 °C with equal amounts of GST-GHR-(271-334) or GST-GHR-(271-286) bound to GSH beads. Beads were pelleted in an Eppendorf centrifuge and washed three times with 1 ml of lysis buffer and twice with PBS containing protease inhibitors. The beads were boiled in 2x sample buffer. Samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE. Proteins associated with the GST fusion proteins were visualized by autoradiography. To analyze equal loading of the fusion proteins, the gels were stained with Coomassie Brillant Blue and analyzed using an Odyssey imaging system.
|
-D-galactopyranoside. GST fusion proteins were purified with GSH-beads (Amersham Biosciences) by the procedure recommended by the manufacturer. Immune Fluorescence MicroscopyCy3-GH was prepared using a Fluorolink-Cy3 label kit according to the supplier's instructions (Amersham Biosciences). Transfected cells, grown on coverslips, were incubated for 15 min with Cy3-GH (1 µg/ml) and/or Alexa488-labeled transferrin (5 µg/ml). Cells were washed with PBS to remove unbound label and fixed for 2 h in 3% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline. After fixation, the cells were embedded in Mowiol, and confocal laser-scanning microscopy was performed using a Leica TCS 4D system.
| RESULTS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
TrCP Is Required for GHR EndocytosisEndocytosis of the GHR depends on the ubiquitination machinery, implicating the involvement of an ubiquitin ligase. Since recent studies show that
TrCP is involved in the degradation of certain cytokine receptors, we used small interfering RNA to silence both
TrCP isoforms and study the effects on GHR turnover. Fig. 1A shows that siRNA for
TrCP inhibits GH uptake to the same extent as silencing of clathrin heavy chain:
50% as compared with nonrelevant siRNA(GFP). In this experiment, the clathrin heavy chain Western blot signal was reduced to 4% compared with siRNA(GFP)-treated cells. Expression of co-transfected FLAG-tagged
TrCP2 was reduced to 10% using the "combi" silencing oligonucleotides that silence both TrCP1 and TrCP2 (Fig. 1B). We conclude that
TrCP is involved in endocytosis of the GHR.
At steady state, almost all (mature, 130-kDa) GHRs are present at the cell surface. To visualize the effect of
TrCP silencing on endocytosis, we incubated the cells with both Cy3-labeled GH and Alexa-488-labeled transferrin. Fig. 1C shows that silencing both
TrCP isoforms resulted in a strong increase of Cy3-GH at the plasma membrane, whereas transferrin recycling remained intact, excluding a general effect on clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These results demonstrate that
TrCP is an obligatory part of the GHR endocytosis machinery. Since both GH and transferrin are endocytosed via clathrin-coated vesicles (24), it suggests that
TrCP is part of the cargo selection complex for the GHR.
An obvious consequence of endocytosis inhibition is an accumulation of GHRs at the cell surface. In Fig. 1D, lanes 1 and 2, we used Hek293 cells transfected with GHR DNA and silenced for both
TrCP isoforms. To measure the amount of GHRs at the cell surface, the cells were incubated with biotin-GH, and the GH-GHR complexes were isolated and quantitated. siRNA(
TrCP) treatment caused a 2-3-fold increase in GHR at the cell surface. To ascertain that the increase was not due to a silencing effect on the amount GHRs synthesized, metabolic labeling with [35S]methionine was performed and showed that the GHR synthesis was not changed (not shown). The cellular concentration of
TrCP1 was measured on Western blots (Fig. 1D). By this method, using an optimized protocol for
TrCP, we obtained
90% silencing. Using this silencing oligonucleotide,
TrCP2 was silenced to the same extent (Fig. 1B). Previous studies have shown that by inhibiting GHR endocytosis through (mutation of) the UbE motif, maximally 60% inhibition of GHR endocytosis was achieved compared with removal of the GHR tail, including the complete UbE motif. Apparently, both
TrCP and clathrin silencing were insufficient to overcome this half-maximal effect on GHR turnover. Combining the two siRNAs did not result in more endocytosis inhibition. In agreement with our previous experience, these effects are too limited to measure half-life differences in dynamic experiments successfully (e.g. using pulse-chase protocols) (21).
As an important control, based on our previous observations that the GHR itself is not an obligatory ubiquitination target, we used a GHR truncated at amino acid residue 399, in which all 10 lysines are replaced by arginine residues (GHR-(1-399) K271-362R) (22). Fig. 1D, lanes 3-6, shows that TrCP silencing induces a 2-3-fold increase in cell surface GHRs whether or not lysine residues are present in the receptor tail. To control the experiments of Fig. 1D for equal transfection efficiencies, we co-transfected GFP DNA in all situations and analyzed the cell lysates for GFP; under all (silencing) conditions and various DNA constructs, the transfection efficiency was identical within measurement limits (Fig. 1D, bottom).
Since we previously concluded that GHR internalization requires the recruitment of the ubiquitin conjugation system to the GHR UbE motif rather than the conjugation of ubiquitin to the GHR itself, we now conclude that
TrCP is a prime candidate to act as E3.
Other Factors of the
TrCP-GHR ComplexOnce we established that
TrCP is involved in GHR endocytosis and degradation, we asked whether
TrCP is in a protein complex with the GHR. Pull-down experiments with biotin-GH, depicted in Fig. 2A, show that both co-expressed full-length (lane 4) and mutant TrCP without the F-box domain (lane 5) were present in the isolated complexes. If His6-TrCP1 was used to isolate the protein complex (Fig. 2B), both ER and cell surface GHR were pulled down (lane 4). The interaction occurs intracellularly, as shown in an experiment in which GHR and His6-TrCP1 were expressed in different plates (lanes 1 and 5) and mixed after cell lysis (lane 3). Under these conditions (low cellular concentrations, low temperature, and short time periods)
TrCP does not interact with GHR. Thus, TrCP is in a protein complex with GHR, probably already in the ER.
TrCP generally acts as subunit of a SCF ubiquitin ligase. To examine the functional complex in GHR endocytosis, we co-transfected
TrCP2 and Skp1 together with the GHR. Pull-down experiments with biotinylated GH and Western blot analysis of the isolated complex revealed that Skp1 interacted with GHR only in the presence of
TrCP (Fig. 2A, lane 4). In the absence of
TrCP (lane 6) or in the presence of
TrCP lacking the F-box (lane 5), no Skp1 was isolated. In lanes 10 and 11, we repeated the experiment and asked whether Skp1 might have associated with the GHR protein complex after lysis. As for
TrCP, the interaction does not occur if cell lysates from cells, expressing the components separately, were mixed (M). Together, this implies that GH, GHR, TrCP2, and Skp1 are in the same protein complex.
To analyze the involvement of an active SCF complex, we took a genetic approach and expressed GHR in hamster ts41 cells. These cells contain a temperature-sensitive mutation in the NEDD8 activation enzyme, APP-BP1, and fail to degrade substrates via E3s with Cullin family members (e.g. p27 via the SCF(skp2) (25), due to defective neddylation. Thus, the E3-SCF(TrCP) is itself regulated via covalent modification of the ubiquitin-like protein Nedd8 by UBC12, whereas deneddylation is performed by the signalosome complex. This modification stabilizes the E2-Cullin/Rbx1 interaction and in turn stimulates ubiquitination of the target substrates. Fig. 2C shows that Cy3-GH is endocytosed at the permissive temperature but largely remains at the cell surface at the nonpermissive temperature (39 °C). In the same experiment, Alexa488-labeled transferrin entered the cells undisturbed, although there seemed to be a different distribution intracellularly. This shows that an intact neddylation system is specifically required for uptake of the GHR. Together with the results on
TrCP and Skp1, these data strongly suggest that GHR endocytosis requires a fully functional SCF(
TrCP) complex.
|
TrCP Interacts with the GHR Tail via the UbE MotifTo further examine the role of
TrCP in GHR endocytosis, we analyzed
TrCP2, since it is dominantly active in the cytosol (26). Hek293 cells were co-transfected with FLAG-tagged
TrCP2 together with GHR or the truncation GHR-(1-286) (Fig. 3A). GHR-(1-286) still contains box 1, the attachment site for Jak2, but lacks the UbE motif. This receptor is unable to endocytose and, therefore, accumulates at the cell surface, resulting in a high amount of mature receptor (55 kDa) compared with its 40-kDa ER form (Fig. 3B, left, lane 2). The wild-type GHR migrates at 130 kDa, whereas its precursor ER form appears as a doublet at 110 kDa (lane 1). Cell lysates were incubated with biotinylated GH, and GHR protein complexes were isolated with streptavidin beads. Comparing the full-length GHR with GHR truncated at 286 shows that co-transfected FLAG-labeled
TrCP2 was only isolated if full-length GHR was present (Fig. 3B, left, lanes 3 and 4). In Fig. 3B, right, we used various GHR truncations and mutations to pinpoint the tail segment involved in
TrCP binding. The receptors were purified from transiently transfected Hek293 cells, via biotinylated GH and streptavidin beads, and then incubated on ice with equal amounts of in vitro synthesized 35S-labeled
TrCP. Wild-type GHR and GHR truncated at 434, 369, or 334 bound
16% of the input 35S-labeled TrCP. GHRs truncated at 330, 326, and 286 as well as the UbE mutants GHR-D331A and GHR-F327A showed little binding. Mutation of the serine residues in the DSGRTS motif of the full-length GHR (GHR-S366,370A) did not affect the GHR-SCF(TrCP) interaction (Fig. 3B, right, lane 8).
|
TrCP2 Interaction and GHR EndocytosisPreviously, we have shown that endocytosis of the GHR depends both on a functional ubiquitination system and on an intact UbE motif (20, 27, 28). Using mutational analysis of the UbE motif by changing every single amino acid residue into alanine, the contribution of each amino acid was determined. The experiment identified the key residues in the UbE motif (DDSWVEFIELD) for endocytosis. As shown in Fig. 1,
TrCP is an obvious factor to act as a regulator of GHR endocytosis. Therefore, we used the pull-down assay of Fig. 3B (right) to ask whether
TrCP binds to the GHR in a specific fashion. Each of the amino acids 320-334 were changed in alanine residues, and the 15 GHR constructs were tested in Hek293 cells. The cells were transfected with equal amounts of the different constructs and showed comparable GHR expression judged by the amounts of high mannose (ER-localized) GHR (not shown). Western blot analysis of the cell extracts shows that the mutations E326A, F327A, I328A, and D331A caused a significant increase in mature (130-kDa) GHR (Fig. 4A), indicative of impaired degradation. Biotin-GH was used to isolate the GH-GHR complexes from the cell surface, and the GHRs were incubated with equal amounts of 35S-labeled
TrCP. Most mutations resulted in inhibition of
TrCP binding as compared with wild-type GHR. However, mutation of the same 4 amino acids inhibited the
TrCP binding more than 60% (Fig. 4B). Compared with the mutational analysis previously performed for endocytosis (see Fig. 4C and Fig. 4 in Ref. 22), we note a striking similarity in patterns; the same 4 amino acid are important for endocytosis of the GHR (27).
GHR Binds to the WD-40 Domain of
TrCP
TrCP canonically binds to the DSG
XS motif in I
B,
-catenin, and human immunodeficiency virus vpu after both serine residues are phosphorylated. To characterize the
TrCP-GHR binding further, we used bacterially produced GST-GHR fusion proteins containing only the 65 membrane-proximal amino acid tail residues and in vitro synthesized 35S-
TrCP (Fig. 5A) (21). Fig. 5B (left, lanes 2) shows that both
TrCP1 and
TrCP2 bind with high efficiency to the GST-GHR-(270-334). If a slightly shorter fusion protein was used (residues 270-318), the interaction was virtually abolished (lanes 3). This demonstrates an efficient interaction between
TrCP and the UbE motif in the GHR. Since the binding is highly efficient at 0 °C, the interaction is very likely direct and does not require any other post-translational modification. The next question is whether GHR binds to
TrCP via its WD40 domain, as has been established for other E3 substrates. Four different constructs were made, expressing
TrCP2 segments 1-174, 1-228, 174-542, and 228-542 (Fig. 5A). Using the GST-GHR fusion proteins, in vitro binding assays clearly show that the interaction is via the WD40 domain; the F-box is not necessary for interaction (right). In addition, specific binding was only observed if the UbE motif was present (compare lanes 2 and 3).
Together, the experiments show that
TrCP interacts with the GHR and that the F-box protein is required for GHR endocytosis. From comparison between the mutational analyses previously measured for GHR endocytosis and the results obtained with the same constructs for GHR-
TrCP interaction, we conclude that
TrCP is a prime regulator of GHR endocytosis via the UbE motif.
|
TrCP IsoformsMainly due to lack of specific antibodies, until now the role of
TrCP has not been elucidated at the level of isoform specificity. The main differences between the isoforms are located at the N terminus.
TrCP1, in general acting on substrates involved in cell cycle regulation, is mainly present in the nucleus, whereas
TrCP2, presumably acting on membrane-bound substrates, resides in the cytosol (9, 29). Our experiments show that both isoforms can be detected in pull-down experiments from bacterially produced GST-GHR fusion proteins (Fig. 5B). However, only functional experiments can validate the interaction. Therefore, we determined the effect of isoform-specific
TrCP silencing on GH internalization. We used several (combinations of) silencing oligonucleotides to specifically deplete transiently expressed FLAG-tagged
TrCP isoforms. Fig. 6A (bottom) shows that the siRNA(TrCP) (combi) probe silenced both isoforms, whereas siRNA(TrCP-1) only silenced TrCP1 and not TrCP2. siRNA(TrCP2) silenced only TrCP2 and not TrCP1, whereas the combination of both TrCPs (TrCP1 + 2) silenced both isoforms. From the upper panel of Fig. 6A, we conclude that silencing of
TrCP1 alone does not affect GH internalization, whereas in every combination in which
TrCP2 was silenced, a clear effect on GH uptake was visible, comparable with silencing of the clathrin heavy chain.
|
TrCP siRNA-resistant replacement vector was used (lanes 4). If
TrCP1- or
TrCP2-specific silencing probes were used, as expected, the "resistant"
TrCP DNA could be silenced (lanes 5-8). Using this strategy, the GH internalization assay shows that (over)expression of both resistant TrCP isoforms can rescue the silencing effect, indicating that both
TrCP isoforms are capable of GHR cargo selection at the cell surface. Our conclusion is that, although both
TrCP isoforms are capable of acting in GHR endocytosis,
TrCP2 is the most obvious candidate for this role in endogenous situations.
|
| DISCUSSION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
TrCP as a key factor required for GHR endocytosis.
TrCP specifically binds to the GHR motif, which is required for ubiquitination-dependent endocytosis. These data support the conclusion that this factor recruits the ubiquitination machinery. The results with Skp1 and neddylation strengthen our hypothesis that the complete SCF(
TrCP) complex, including Skp1, Cul1, Rbx1, and an ubiquitin conjugase, is present at the GHR tail. This is the first observation that shows direct involvement of a SCF E3 in endocytosis of cytokine receptors without targeting the receptor itself for ubiquitination. Although the test system uses GHR-(over)expressing cells, the experiments show that endogenous TrCP levels are sufficient to rapidly initiate GHR endocytosis and degradation. The physiological relevance of the findings is further supported by the TrCP silencing experiments; if the cellular levels of both TrCP species were diminished, uptake and degradation of GHR were inhibited.
Detailed structural information is available on the interaction between the WD40 domain of SCF(
TrCP) and
-catenin (30). The F box protein
TrCP recognizes the dual phosphorylated DpSGFXpS destruction motif (where pS represents phosphoserine), present in
-catenin, and directs the SCF(
TrCP) E3 to ubiquitinate it at a lysine residue, 13 amino acids upstream of the destruction motif (commonly present 9-14 positions upstream). The
-catenin peptide binds the top face of the
-propeller, with the 6-residue destruction motif dipping into the central channel. All seven WD40 repeats contact
-catenin. Comparison with the UbE motif reveals little resemblance to the catenin destruction motif: the UbE motif is 11 amino acids long, it contains 3 acidic residues critical for binding (Asp321, Glu326, and Asp331) instead of the two phosphorylated serine residues in
-catenin, and it lacks the canonical glycine residue, present in all phosphorylated DSGFXS destruction motifs described until now (31, 32). The results of Fig. 4 are most predictive and point to a binding site with EFIXXDasthe strongest interacting residues. Another deviation from the canonical motif is the lack of a lysine residue at positions 9-14 upstream, although there is a conserved lysine at 315 immediately after a tyrosine that is phosphorylated upon GH binding. However, mutation of this lysine residue into arginine does not affect its ubiquitination-dependent endocytosis (22). Together, these results are in line with our previous observation that ubiquitination of the GHR is not required for endocytosis. Thus, binding of a presumed SCF(
TrCP) E3 does not target the GHR for ubiquitination but must be directed toward another factor in the GHR-ubiquitination complex (22). Even without a three-dimensional structure of the precise interaction between the
TrCP-WD40 domain and the UbE motif, it is already clear that the UbE-WD40 interaction considerably differs from the WD40-DSGFXS destruction motif interactions described until now.
Interaction of
TrCP is the first step toward factual endocytosis of the GHR via a clathrin-mediated selection process. To involve the ubiquitination machinery in this process, the GHR must be dimerized (33). Recent observations on
TrCP show that it indeed contains a dimerization domain that is important for its E3 function (34). Also, cullins seem to occur as dimers in the context of SCF complexes (35). Our in vitro binding experiments with GST-GHR tails suggest that also monomeric GHR can bind
TrCP, although due to the tendency of GST to homodimerize, it may well be that also the GST-GHR molecules represent dimeric GHR segments (36). Previously, we reported that a chimeric GHR consisting of the extracellular domain of low density lipoprotein receptor-like protein and the trans-membrane and cytosolic domain of the GHR could not dimerize anymore and that monomeric GHR can endocytose in an ubiquitin system-independent fashion. Since dimerization occurs in the ER and
TrCP is a homodimer, it is possible that
TrCP acts as a chaperone at the ER. Therefore, it remains to be investigated whether the dimerization of
TrCP poses the necessity for dimerization on the GHR.
Cargo selection via
TrCP thus requires an active E3, followed by proteasomal activity, and interaction with the clathrin-mediated machinery (22). Whether the SCF E3 ubiquitinates a factor X and enables GHR to connect to the clathrin heavy chain remains to be determined. Previously, we have identified several factors that bound specifically to the UbE motif (21). The tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein SGT may be a factor bridging the gap between
TrCP and clathrin via the U-box ligase carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (21, 37). Another scenario may be that the ubiquitin moiety present in the SCF(
TrCP) complex serves as a ligand for ubiquitin-binding proteins that are part of the clathrin-mediated endocytosis machinery (38).
TrCP is involved in the degradation of prolactin and interferon receptors (17-19). Fuchs et al. (31) identified
TrCP interaction with these receptors via their DSGFXS destruction motifs and showed that the E3 ubiquitinates both the interferon-
and prolactin receptors, dependent on an intact DSGFXS motif. Upon ligand binding, this motif is phosphorylated, after which the SCF E3 ubiquitinates certain lysines in the tail of the receptors. This leads to their destruction. It is clear that this scenario differs from the action of
TrCP in GHR endocytosis. Although the GHR does contain a DSG
XS-like destruction motif (DSGRTS), mutation of the serine residues did not result in a shorter half-life or in inhibition of GHR endocytosis3; nor did mutation/removal of the motif interfere with the
TrCP-GHR interaction.
Ubiquitination by the SCF(
TrCP) E3 of a factor generally results in its destruction by the proteasome. In most cases, the decision to degrade the target is not in the SCF(
TrCP) E3 action but depends on the activity of one or two kinases that phosphorylate serine residues in the degradation motif. Our experiments with GST-GHR fusion proteins indicate that binding of
TrCP to the UbE motif does not depend on a preceding action of another post-translation modification. Thus, very likely, the cytosolic concentration of
TrCP determines its activity level to induce GHR endocytosis. This is reflected in several experiments showing that decreased amounts of
TrCP inhibit GH uptake and GHR degradation. Thus, the free cytosolic concentration of
TrCP may function as a factor in GH sensitivity of cells; at low concentrations, the cells are more sensitive to GH than at high concentrations. Currently,
TrCP appears to be involved in the degradation of at least 10 substrates at the same time:
-catenin, NF
B, I
B (31), Emi1 (39), Wee1 (40), ATF4 (41), hDlg (42), CDC25B (32), IFN-R1 (17), Gli3 (43), and Prl-R (21). In all except for CDC25B, degradation is regulated by phosphorylation. Although the two
TrCP subspecies may be differently localized in the cell, they can take over their tasks if one of the two is silenced by RNA interference techniques. Since probably no modification is required for
TrCP to bind GHR, the two proteins may regulate each other's activity; more cellular
TrCP results in increased GHR endocytosis/degradation, whereas more GHR may absorb free
TrCP, immediately affecting the other
TrCP functions. Evidence for this comes also from the observation that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-U acts as a pseudosubstrate (44). Generally,
TrCP is part of an E3 complex involved in degradation of key factors controlling cell growth, survival, and transformation (31). Since it is a short lived protein itself, more studies are needed to understand the consequences of
TrCP concentrations for cellular regulation and the GHR activity in particular.
The GH-IGF1 system is involved in longevity, cell cycle, apoptosis, and immunity (1); in catabolic (cachectic) conditions, such as old age and cancer, unknown stress signals turn the system off, resulting in GH insensitivity, whereas anabolic conditions require cells to be highly GH-responsive. Whether and how
TrCP is at this balance remains to be elucidated.
| FOOTNOTES |
|---|
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: Dept. of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht and Institute of Biomembranes, Heidelberglaan 100, AZU-G02.525, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel.: 31-30-250-6476; Fax: 31-30-254-1797; E-mail: gstrous{at}umcutrecht.nl.
2 The abbreviations used are: GH, growth hormone; GHR, growth hormone receptor; UbE, ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis; GST, glutathione S-transferase; mAb, monoclonal antibody; siRNA, small interfering RNA; GFP, green fluorescent protein; E3, ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase; E2, ubiquitin carrier protein; ER, endoplasmic reticulum;
TrCP,
-transducing repeat-containing protein. ![]()
3 P. van Kerkhof, J. Putters, and G. J. Strous, unpublished results. ![]()
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
|---|
TrCP DNA constructs. The Bachelor of Science students in biomolecular sciences Sebastiaan van Seters, Tessa Gaarenstroom, Astrid Eijkelenboom, and Wytse Bruinsma are gratefully acknowledged for making the initial observations during the Advanced Cell Biology course. | REFERENCES |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
X. Tan and N. Zheng Hormone signaling through protein destruction: a lesson from plants Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2009; 296(2): E223 - E227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Varghese, H. Barriere, C. J. Carbone, A. Banerjee, G. Swaminathan, A. Plotnikov, P. Xu, J. Peng, V. Goffin, G. L. Lukacs, et al. Polyubiquitination of Prolactin Receptor Stimulates Its Internalization, Postinternalization Sorting, and Degradation via the Lysosomal Pathway Mol. Cell. Biol., September 1, 2008; 28(17): 5275 - 5287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| All ASBMB Journals | Molecular and Cellular Proteomics |
| Journal of Lipid Research | ASBMB Today |