Characterization of the mouse gene for the U-box-type ubiquitin ligase UFD2a.

UFD2a is a mammalian homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ufd2, originally described as an E4 ubiquitination factor. UFD2a belongs to the U-box family of ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and likely functions as both an E3 and E4. We have isolated and characterized the mouse gene (Ube4b) for UFD2a. A full-length (approximately 5700 ...
bp) Ube4b cDNA was isolated and the corresponding gene spans >100 kb, comprising 27 exons. Luciferase reporter gene analysis of the 5(') flanking region of Ube4b revealed that nucleotides -1018 to -943 (relative to the translation initiation site) possess promoter activity. This functional sequence contains two putative Sp1 binding sites but not a TATA box. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that UFD2a is expressed predominantly in the neuronal tissues. We also show that UFD2a interacts with VCP (a AAA-family ATPase) that is thought to mediate protein folding. These data implicate UFD2a in the degradation of neuronal proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
Mesh Terms:
Adenosine Triphosphatases, Animals, Base Sequence, Cell Cycle Proteins, DNA, Complementary, Fungal Proteins, Gene Components, Ligases, Mice, Molecular Sequence Data, Neurons, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins, Transcriptional Activation, Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.
Date: Jan. 10, 2003
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