TY - JOUR T1 - A novel polyubiquitin chain linkage formed by viral Ubiquitin is resistant to host deubiquitinating enzymes. JF - Biochem J Y1 - 2020 A1 - Negi, Hitendra A1 - Reddy, Pothula Purushotham A1 - Vengayil, Vineeth A1 - Patole, Chhaya A1 - Laxman, Sunil A1 - Das, Ranabir AB -

The Baculoviridae family of viruses encode a viral Ubiquitin (vUb) gene. Though the vUb is homologous to the host eukaryotic Ubiquitin (Ub), its preservation in the viral genome indicates unique functions that are not compensated by the host Ub. We report the structural, biophysical, and biochemical properties of the vUb from Autographa californica multiple nucleo-polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). The packing of central helix α1 to the beta-sheet β1-β5 is different between vUb and Ub. Consequently, its stability is lower compared with Ub. However, the surface properties, ubiquitination activity, and the interaction with Ubiquitin-binding domains are similar between vUb and Ub. Interestingly, vUb forms atypical polyubiquitin chain linked by lysine at the 54th position (K54), and the deubiquitinating enzymes are ineffective against the K54-linked polyubiquitin chains. We propose that the modification of host/viral proteins with the K54-linked chains is an effective way selected by the virus to protect the vUb signal from host DeUbiquitinases.

VL - 477 IS - 12 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The E3 ubiquitin ligase Pib1 regulates effective gluconeogenic shutdown upon glucose availability. JF - J Biol Chem Y1 - 2019 A1 - Vengayil, Vineeth A1 - Rashida, Zeenat A1 - Laxman, Sunil AB -

Cells use multiple mechanisms to regulate their metabolic states in response to changes in their nutrient environment. One example is the response of cells to glucose. In S. cerevisiae growing in glucose-depleted medium, the re-availability of glucose leads to the downregulation of gluconeogenesis, and the activation of glycolysis, leading to 'glucose repression'. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms mediating the glucose dependent downregulation of the gluconeogenic transcription factors is limited. Using a major gluconeogenic transcription factor Rds2 as a candidate, here we identify a novel role for the E3 ubiquitin ligase Pib1 in regulating the stability and degradation of Rds2. Glucose addition to cells growing in glucose limitation results in rapid ubiquitination of Rds2, followed by its proteasomal degradation. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we establish Pib1 as the ubiquitin E3 ligase that regulates Rds2 ubiquitination and stability. Notably, this Pib1 mediated Rds2 ubiquitination, followed by proteasomal degradation, is specific to the presence of glucose. This Pib1 mediated ubiquitination of Rds2 depends on the phosphorylation state of Rds2, suggesting a cross-talk between ubiquitination and phosphorylation to achieve a metabolic state change. Using stable-isotope based metabolic flux experiments we find that the loss of Pib1 results in an imbalanced gluconeogenic state, regardless of glucose availability. Pib1 is required for complete glucose repression, and enables cells to optimally grow in competitive environments when glucose becomes re-available. Our results reveal the existence of a Pib1 mediated regulatory program that mediates glucose-repression when glucose availability is restored.

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