Degtjarik, O. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Mechanism of K63-linked polyubiquitin recognition and cleavage by the BRCA1-A complex

Deubiquitylases modulate cellular processes by cleaving monoubiquitin or polyubiquitin chains. The ARISC-RAP80 complex partners with BRCA1-BARD1 to form the BRCA1-A super-complex, which recognizes K63-linked ubiquitin chains at DNA damage sites. ARISC-RAP80 contains multiple ubiquitin-binding sites, yet how these influence recognition and cleavage of K63-polyubiquitylated substrates remains unknown. We discover that a composite three-subunit interface allows ARISC-RAP80 to position K63-linked polyubiquitin chains in its catalytic site. Substrate recognition is further supported by RAP80 and non-catalytic ubiquitin-binding sites that impose a compact conformation to K63-polyubiquitylated substrates. This mechanism exploits the inherent flexibility of long ubiquitin chains and differs considerably from other deubiquitylases. Structure-guided mutagenesis validate ubiquitin chain interactions, and cell-based assays demonstrate a functional role of the observed interfaces in chromatin recruitment. Our findings define mechanisms of polyubiquitin chain decoding and cleavage by ARISC-RAP80, linking ubiquitin reading and erasing functions to BRCA1-A mediated DNA damage responses.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Structural elucidation of the haptoglobin-hemoglobin clearance mechanism by macrophage scavenger receptor CD163

Intravascular hemolysis releases hemoglobin into the bloodstream, which can damage vascular and renal tissues due to its oxidative nature. Circulating haptoglobin acts as a primary defense by binding to free hemoglobin, forming a haptoglobin-hemoglobin (HpHb) complex that is then recognized and cleared by the CD163 scavenger receptor on macrophages. While the function and structure of HpHb complex are mostly well-defined, the molecular mechanism underlying its interaction with CD163 remains unclear. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of CD163 in its unliganded state and in its complex with HpHb. These structures reveal that CD163 functions as a trimer, forming a composite binding site at its center for one protomer of the dimeric HpHb, resulting in a 3:1 binding stoichiometry. In the unliganded state, CD163 can also form a trimer, but in an autoinhibitory configuration that occludes the ligand binding site. Widespread electrostatic interactions mediated by calcium ions are pivotal in both pre-ligand and ligand-bound receptor assemblies. This calcium-dependent mechanism enables CD163/HpHb complexes to assemble and, once internalized, disassemble into individual components upon reaching the endosome, where low calcium and lower pH conditions prevail. Collectively, this study elucidates the molecular mechanism by which CD163-mediated endocytosis efficiently clears different isoforms of HpHb.

biophysics↗