Biology subjects

Bennett, E. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Bennett, E. J..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Active protein neddylation or ubiquitylation is dispensable for stress granule dynamics

Many protein homeostasis stressors induce the formation of membraneless cytoplasmic stress granules (SGs) that contain large assemblies of repressed mRNAs and associated RNA binding proteins. Similar stressors have been shown to globally alter the function of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) resulting in the accumulation of ubiquitylated proteins. Previous studies have demonstrated that ubiquitin and specific UPS components co-localize with SGs and that reducing the abundance or activity of ubiquitin pathway proteins can inhibit SG formation. These studies suggest that SG dynamics and composition may be regulated by ubiquitylation of SG resident proteins. Using ubiquitin-specific proteomic approaches, we demonstrate that many proteins, including some SG proteins are dynamically ubiquitylated upon SG-inducing sodium arsenite treatment. We utilized potent and selective inhibitors of the ubiquitin activating enzyme (UAE) or the NEDD8 activating enzyme (NAE) to directly test if active protein ubiquitylation or neddylation was required for SG dynamics. Using ubiquitin-site specific proteomics, we establish that UAE inhibition results in the rapid loss of nearly all protein ubiquitylation regardless of ubiquitin chain type. Addition of UAE or NAE inhibitors to cells did not alter arsenite-induced SG formation or dissolution. While we confirmed that ubiquitin co-localizes with both sodium arsenite and thapsigargin-induced SGs, antibodies that recognize all forms of ubiquitin more strongly co-localize with SGs compared to antibodies that preferentially recognize polyubiquitin or specific polyubiquitin-linkages. Interestingly, ubiquitin itself co-localizes with SGs in a UAE independent manner suggesting that the ubiquitin present within SGs is likely unconjugated ubiquitin. Our findings clearly demonstrate that active protein ubiquitylation or neddylation is not required for SG dynamics. These results suggest that ubiquitin-binding SG proteins may recruit free ubiquitin into SGs to modulate SG protein interactions.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

USP21 and OTUD3 Antagonize Regulatory Ribosomal Ubiquitylation and Ribosome-Associated Quality Control

Defects within mRNAs or nascent chains that halt ribosomal progression can trigger ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) pathways that facilitate mRNA and nascent polypeptide destruction as well as ribosome recycling. Failure to remove defective mRNAs or nascent chains can lead to the accumulation of cytotoxic protein aggregates and proteotoxic stress. We previously established that the E3 ligase ZNF598 catalyzes regulatory ribosomal ubiquitylation of specific 40S ribosomal proteins required for downstream RQC events. Utilizing an optical RQC reporter we identify OTUD3 and USP21 as deubiquitylating enzymes that antagonize ZNF598-mediated 40S ubiquitylation and facilitate ribosomal deubiquitylation following RQC activation. Overexpression of either USP21 or OTUD3 enhances readthrough of stall-inducing sequences as compared to knock-in cells lacking individual RRub sites suggesting that combinatorial ubiquitylation of RPS10 (eS10) and RPS20 (uS10) is required for optimal resolution of RQC events and that deubiquitylating enzymes can limit RQC activation.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Proximity labeling reveals an extensive steady-state stress granule interactome and insights to neurodegeneration

Stress granules (SGs) are transient ribonucleoprotein (RNP) aggregates that form in response to proteotoxic stress. Although SGs are distinct from aggregates observed in neurodegenerative disorders, they share protein components. We used APEX-mediated proximity labeling combined with quantitative mass spectrometry and high-throughput imaging to identify >100 previously unknown SG proteins in human cells, about 10% of which localize to SGs in a cell type- or stress type-dependent manner. Supporting a link between SG proteins and neurodegeneration, we demonstrate aberrant SG composition and subcellular distribution in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS patients, and identify several known and previously unidentified SG proteins that modify toxicity of mutant FUS and TDP-43 overexpression in Drosophila. We show that even in an unstressed steady-state, SG proteins form a densely-connected protein interaction network (PIN) and propose a model in which existing RNPs coalesce rapidly into microscopically visible granules that can act as gateways to pathological protein aggregation.\n\nHighlights O_LIAPEX proximity labeling of dynamic RNP granules identifies over 100 novel SG proteins\nC_LIO_LISG proteins form a densely-connected protein interaction network in unstressed cells\nC_LIO_LISystematic immunofluorescence analysis reveals stress- and cell type-specific SG composition\nC_LIO_LIALS motor neurons contain SGs with distinct content and subcellular distribution\nC_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Decoys reveal the genetic and biochemical roles of redundant plant E3 ubiquitin ligases

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is the main cellular route for protein degradation in plants and is important for a wide range of biological processes including daily and seasonal timing. The UPS relies on the action of E3 ubiquitin ligases to specifically recognize substrate proteins and facilitate their ubiquitylation. In plants, there are three major challenges that inhibit studies of E3 ligase function: 1) rampant genetic redundancy, 2) labile interactions between an E3 ligase and its cognate substrates, and 3) a lack of tools for rapid validation of bona fide substrates. To overcome these 3 challenges, we have developed a decoy method that allows for rapid genetic analysis of E3 ligases, in vivo identification of substrates using immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry, and reconstitution of the ubiquitylation reaction in mammalian cells to rapidly validate potential substrates. We employ the strategy to study the plant F-box proteins, ZTL, LKP2, and FKF1 revealing differential genetic impacts on circadian clock period and seasonal flowering. We identify a group of circadian clock transcriptional regulators that interact with ZTL, LKP2, and FKF1 in vivo providing a host of potential substrates that have not been seen previously. We then validate one substrate of ZTL, the plant circadian clock transcription factor CHE, and show that ZTL mediates CHE ubiquitylation and that the levels of the CHE protein cycle in daily timecourses. This work further untangles the complicated genetic roles of this family of E3 ligases and suggests that ZTL is a master regulator of a diverse set of critical clock transcription factors. Furthermore, the method that is validated here can be tool employed widely to overcome traditional challenges in studying redundant plant E3 ubiquitin ligases.

plant biology↗