2. Academic Validation
  3. Protein Engineering in the Ubiquitin System: Tools for Discovery and Beyond

Protein Engineering in the Ubiquitin System: Tools for Discovery and Beyond

  • Pharmacol Rev. 2020 Apr;72(2):380-413. doi: 10.1124/pr.118.015651.
Bo Zhao 1,  Yien Che Tsai 2,  Bo Jin 2,  Bufan Wang 2,  Yiyang Wang 2,  Han Zhou 2,  Tomaya Carpenter 2,  Allan M Weissman 3,  Jun Yin 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China (B.Z., B.J., B.W.); Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China (Y.W.); Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (Y.C.T., A.M.W.); and Department of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (Y.W., H.Z., T.C., J.Y.) [email protected].
  • 2 Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China (B.Z., B.J., B.W.); Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China (Y.W.); Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (Y.C.T., A.M.W.); and Department of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (Y.W., H.Z., T.C., J.Y.).
  • 3 Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China (B.Z., B.J., B.W.); Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China (Y.W.); Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (Y.C.T., A.M.W.); and Department of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (Y.W., H.Z., T.C., J.Y.) [email protected].
  • 4 Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China (B.Z., B.J., B.W.); Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China (Y.W.); Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland (Y.C.T., A.M.W.); and Department of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (Y.W., H.Z., T.C., J.Y.) [email protected].
PMID: 32107274 DOI: 10.1124/pr.118.015651
Abstract

Ubiquitin (UB) transfer cascades consisting of E1, E2, and E3 enzymes constitute a complex network that regulates a myriad of biologic processes by modifying protein substrates. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) reverse UB modifications or trim UB chains of diverse linkages. Additionally, many cellular proteins carry UB-binding domains (UBDs) that translate the signals encoded in UB chains to target proteins for degradation by proteasomes or in autophagosomes, as well as affect nonproteolytic outcomes such as kinase activation, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. Dysregulation of the UB transfer pathways and malfunctions of DUBs and UBDs play causative roles in the development of many diseases. A greater understanding of the mechanism of UB chain assembly and the signals encoded in UB chains should aid in our understanding of disease pathogenesis and guide the development of novel therapeutics. The recent flourish of protein-engineering approaches such as unnatural amino acid incorporation, protein semisynthesis by expressed protein ligation, and high throughput selection by phage and yeast cell surface display has generated designer proteins as powerful tools to interrogate cell signaling mediated by protein ubiquitination. In this study, we highlight recent achievements of protein engineering on mapping, probing, and manipulating UB transfer in the cell. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The post-translational modification of proteins with ubiquitin alters the fate and function of proteins in diverse ways. Protein engineering is fundamentally transforming research in this area, providing new mechanistic insights and allowing for the exploration of concepts that can potentially be applied to therapeutic intervention.

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