Functional reconstruction of a eukaryotic-like E1/E2/(RING)E3 ubiquitylation cascade from an uncultured archaeon

James, Rory Hennell and Caceres, Eva F. and Escasinas, Alex and Alhasan, Haya and Howard, Julie A. and Deery, Michael J. and Ettema, Thijs J. G. and Robinson, Nicholas Paul (2017) Functional reconstruction of a eukaryotic-like E1/E2/(RING)E3 ubiquitylation cascade from an uncultured archaeon. Nature Communications, 8: 1120. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

The covalent modification of protein substrates by ubiquitin regulates a diverse range of critical biological functions. Although it has been established that ubiquitin-like modifiers evolved from prokaryotic sulphur transfer proteins it is less clear how complex eukaryotic ubiquitylation system arose and diversified from these prokaryotic antecedents. The discovery of ubiquitin, E1-like, E2-like and small-RING finger (srfp) protein components in the Aigarchaeota and the Asgard archaea superphyla has provided a substantive step toward addressing this evolutionary question. Encoded in operons, these components are likely representative of the progenitor apparatus that founded the modern eukaryotic ubiquitin modification systems. Here we report that these proteins from the archaeon Candidatus ‘Caldiarchaeum subterraneum’ operate together as a bona fide ubiquitin modification system, mediating a sequential ubiquitylation cascade reminiscent of the eukaryotic process. Our observations support the hypothesis that complex eukaryotic ubiquitylation signalling pathways have developed from compact systems originally inherited from an archaeal ancestor.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Nature Communications
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1300
Subjects:
?? enzyme mechanismsfunctional clusteringubiquitylationgeneral biochemistry,genetics and molecular biologygeneral chemistrygeneral physics and astronomybiochemistry, genetics and molecular biology(all)chemistry(all)physics and astronomy(all) ??
ID Code:
87547
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
31 Aug 2017 10:46
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
16 Jul 2024 10:30