Burschowsky D, Rudolf F, Rabut G, Herrmann T, Peter M, Wider G

Ubiquitin-binding domains (UBDs) provide specificity to the ubiquitin system, which is also involved in translesion synthesis (TLS) in eukaryotic cells. Upon DNA damage, the UBDs (UBM domains) of polymerase iota (Pol ι) interact with ubiquitinated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) to regulate the interchange between processive DNA polymerases and TLS. ...

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We report a biophysical analysis and solution structures of the two conserved UBM domains located in the C-terminal tail of murine Pol ι in complex with ubiquitin. The 35 amino acid core folds into a helix-turn-helix motif, which belongs to a novel domain fold. Similar to other UBDs, UBMs bind to ubiquitin on the hydrophobic surface delineated by L8, I44 and V70, however, slightly shifted towards the C-terminus. In addition, UBMs also use electrostatic interactions to stabilize binding. NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements revealed that UBMs bind monoubiquitin, and K63- but not K48-linked chains. Importantly, these biophysical data are supported by functional studies. Indeed, yeast cells expressing ubiquitin mutants specifically defective for UBM binding are viable, but sensitive to DNA damaging conditions that require TLS for repair.

Date: Nov. 04, 2010

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