Biology subjects

Hornegger, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Hornegger, H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Multiple ubiquitin ligases protect human genome integrity by targeting cancer-associated APOBEC3 deaminases for degradation.

HighlightsO_LIRNA-free APOBEC3 (A3) can enter the nucleus, leading to genomic mutations. C_LIO_LIThree E3 ligases specifically bind the RNA-binding domain of nuclear A3s. C_LIO_LICancer-associated A3B and A3H-I are thereby targeted for proteasomal degradation. C_LIO_LIThese E3 ligases thus act as genome guardians by limiting A3-mediated mutagenesis. C_LI APOBEC family members play crucial roles in antiviral restriction. However, certain APOBEC3 (A3) proteins drive harmful hypermutation in humans, contributing to cancer. The cancer-associated A3 proteins are capable of transiting from the cytosol to the nucleus, where they can cause genome mutations. Here, we uncover a specific set of cellular pathways that protect genomic DNA from the major cancer-associated A3 proteins. Through genetic and proteomic screening we identify UBR4, UBR5, and HUWE1 as key ubiquitin E3 ligases marking cancer-associated A3B and A3H-I for degradation, thereby limiting A3-driven hypermutation. Mechanistically, UBR5 and HUWE1 recognize unoccupied A3 RNA-binding domains, thus promoting proteasomal degradation of APOBEC3 protein that is not engaged in its antiviral cellular function. Depletion or mutation of the E3 ligases in cells and human cancer samples increases A3-driven genome mutagenesis. Our findings reveal that UBR4, UBR5, and HUWE1 are crucial factors in a ubiquitination cascade that maintains human genome stability.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

IGF2BP1 phosphorylation regulates ribonucleoprotein condensate formation by impairing low-affinity protein and RNA interactions

The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein (IGF2BP1) is a conserved RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA stability, localization, and translation. IGF2BP1 is part of various ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates regulating RNA outputs. However, the mechanism that regulates its assembly into condensates remains unknown. Here we found, using proteomics, that IGF2BP1 phosphorylation at S181 in a disordered linker is regulated in a stress-dependent manner. Phosphomimetic mutations in two disordered linkers, S181E and Y396E, modulated RNP condensate formation by IGF2BP1 without impacting its binding affinity for RNA. Intriguingly, the S181E mutant, which lies in linker 1, impaired IGF2BP1 condensate formation in vitro and in cells, whereas a Y396E mutant in the second linker increased condensate size and dynamics. Structural approaches showed that the first linker binds RNAs nonspecifically through its RGG/RG motif, an interaction weakened in the S181E mutant. Notably, linker 2 interacts with IGF2BP1s folded domains and these interactions were partially impaired in the Y396E mutant. Our data reveal how phosphorylation modulates low affinity interaction networks in disordered linkers to regulate RNP condensate formation.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

Shuffled ATG8 interacting motifs form an ancestral bridge between UFMylation and C53-mediated autophagy

UFMylation mediates the covalent modification of substrate proteins with UFM1 (Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1) and regulates the selective degradation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via autophagy (ER-phagy) to maintain ER homeostasis. Specifically, collisions of the ER-bound ribosomes trigger ribosome UFMylation, which in turn activates C53-mediated autophagy that clears the toxic incomplete polypeptides. C53 has evolved non-canonical shuffled ATG8 interacting motifs (sAIMs) that are essential for ATG8 interaction and autophagy initiation. Why these non-canonical motifs were selected during evolution, instead of canonical ATG8 interacting motifs remains unknown. Here, using a phylogenomics approach, we show that UFMylation is conserved across the eukaryotes and secondarily lost in fungi and some other species. Further biochemical assays have confirmed those results and showed that the unicellular algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has a functional UFMylation machinery, overturning the assumption that this process is linked to multicellularity. Our conservation analysis also revealed that UFM1 co-evolves with the sAIMs in C53, reflecting a functional link between UFM1 and the sAIMs. Using biochemical and structural approaches, we confirmed the interaction of UFM1 with the C53 sAIMs and found that UFM1 and ATG8 bound to the sAIMs in a different mode. Conversion of sAIMs into canonical AIMs prevented binding of UFM1 to C53, while strengthening ATG8 interaction. This led to the autoactivation of the C53 pathway and sensitized Arabidopsis thaliana to ER stress. Altogether, our findings reveal an ancestral toggle switch embodied in the sAIMs that regulates C53-mediated autophagy to maintain ER homeostasis.

plant biology↗