A luminal flavoprotein in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Sep 1;106(35):14831-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0900742106. Epub 2009 Aug 19.

Abstract

The quality control system of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) discriminates between native and nonnative proteins. The latter are degraded by the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway. Whereas many cytosolic and membrane components of this system are known, only few luminal players have been identified. In this study, we characterize ERFAD (ER flavoprotein associated with degradation), an ER luminal flavoprotein that functions in ERAD. Upon knockdown of ERFAD, the degradation of the ERAD model substrate ribophorin 332 is delayed, and the overall level of polyubiquitinated cellular proteins is decreased. We also identify the ERAD components SEL1L, OS-9 and ERdj5, a known reductase of ERAD substrates, as interaction partners of ERFAD. Our data show that ERFAD facilitates the dislocation of certain ERAD substrates to the cytosol, and we discuss the findings in relation to a potential redox function of the protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Flavoproteins / chemistry
  • Flavoproteins / genetics
  • Flavoproteins / metabolism*
  • Glycosylation
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lectins
  • Molecular Chaperones / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • DNAJC10 protein, human
  • Flavoproteins
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Lectins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • OS9 protein, human
  • Proteins
  • SEL1L protein, human