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How does the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 activate ubiquitin ligase machineries?

Objective

Post-translational modification by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs) is a major eukaryotic regulatory mechanism. Nonetheless, we have little understanding of the detailed mechanisms by which most E3 ligases mark specific targets with monoubiquitin, multiple ubiquitins or specific polyubiquitin chains, or of how UBL modifications transform the functions of their targets. This proposal addresses both problems. First, we will discover the structural mechanisms by which the UBL NEDD8 (58% identical to ubiquitin) activates numerous distinct functions of its targets, which are cullin subunits of cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs). Second, we will take a tour-de-force structural, biochemical, and molecular cell biological approach to determine how NEDD8-activated E3 ligases regulate their substrates. Because CRLs form nearly half of all E3 ligases, and as we recently discovered, neddylated CRLs act in part by activating monoubiquitylation by another family of E3 ligases (Ariadne-family RBR E3s), the proposed studies will establish paradigms for a major fraction of ubiquitylating enzymes. To achieve these goals, we will devise novel chemical biology tools to capture fleeting assemblies that typically only occur during chemical reactions, and visualize structures of neddylated CRLs “in action” by cryo EM. We will generate a resource of novel reagents that detect, label, and affinity purify activated forms of E3 ligases to temporally track their interactions during pathways they regulate in cells. And we will define the mechanisms and structures of a class of atypical, disease-associated giant E3 ligases whose domains and interacting partners are so peculiar that their activities remain elusive. Overall, we will comprehensively define how a UBL directly regulates its targets, and how two major E3 ligase families mediate regulation.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2017-ADG

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Host institution

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 193 871,00
Address
HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 193 871,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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