Glycoprotein-specific ubiquitin ligases recognize N-glycans in unfolded substrates

EMBO Rep. 2005 Mar;6(3):239-44. doi: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400351.

Abstract

Misfolded or unassembled polypeptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are retro-translocated into the cytosol and degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We reported previously that the SCF(Fbs1,2) ubiquitin-ligase complexes that contribute to ubiquitination of glycoproteins are involved in the ER-associated degradation pathway. Here we investigated how the SCF(Fbs1,2) complexes interact with unfolded glycoproteins. The SCF(Fbs1) complex was associated with p97/VCP AAA ATPase and bound to integrin-beta1, one of the SCF(Fbs1) substrates, in the cytosol in a manner dependent on p97 ATPase activity. Both Fbs1 and Fbs2 proteins interacted with denatured glycoproteins, which were modified with not only high-mannose but also complex-type oligosaccharides, more efficiently than native proteins. Given that Fbs proteins interact with innermost chitobiose in N-glycans, we propose that Fbs proteins distinguish native from unfolded glycoproteins by sensing the exposed chitobiose structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta Chains / genetics
  • Integrin beta Chains / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Oligosaccharides / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Folding*
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Valosin Containing Protein

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Integrin beta Chains
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Ubiquitin
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • VCP protein, human
  • Valosin Containing Protein
  • Vcp protein, mouse