Structural insights into the mechanism and E2 specificity of the RBR E3 ubiquitin ligase HHARI.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

Nat Commun, Volume 8, Issue 1, p.211 (2017)

Abstract:

<p>RING-in-between-RING (RBR) ubiquitin (Ub) E3 ligases function with Ub E2s through a RING/HECT hybrid mechanism to conjugate Ub to target proteins. Here, we report the crystal structure of the RBR E3, HHARI, in complex with a UbcH7&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub thioester mimetic which reveals the molecular basis for the specificity of this cognate E2/RBR E3 pair. The structure also reveals mechanistically important conformational changes in the RING1 and UBA-like domains of HHARI that accompany UbcH7&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub binding and provides a molecular basis by which HHARI recruits E2&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub in an &#39;open&#39; conformation. In addition to optimally functioning with an E2 that solely performs transthiolation, our data suggests that HHARI prevents spurious discharge of Ub from E2 to lysine residues by: (1) harboring structural elements that block E2&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub from adopting a &#39;closed&#39; conformation and (2) participating in contacts to ubiquitin that promote an open E2&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub conformation.HHARI is a RING-in-between-RING (RBR) ubiquitin (Ub) E3 ligase. Here the authors present the crystal structure of HHARI with the UbcH7&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub thioester intermediate mimetic, which reveals that HHARI binds this E2&thinsp;~&thinsp;Ub in an open conformation and explains the specificity of this cognate RBR E3/E2 pair.</p>

PDB: 
5TTE
Detector: 
PILATUS
Beamline: 
24-ID-C