Misfolded or damaged proteins are typically targeted for destruction by proteasome‐mediated degradation, but the mammalian ubiquitin machinery involved is incompletely understood. Here, using forward genetic screens in human cells, we find that the proteasome‐mediated degradation of the soluble misfolded reporter, mCherry‐CL1, involves two ER‐resident E3 ligases, MARCH6 and TRC8. mCherry‐CL1 degradation is routed via the ER membrane and dependent on the hydrophobicity of the substrate, with complete stabilisation only observed in double knockout MARCH6/TRC8 cells. To identify a more physiological correlate, we used quantitative mass spectrometry and found that TRC8 and MARCH6 depletion altered the turnover of the tail‐anchored protein heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1). These E3 ligases associate with the intramembrane cleaving signal peptide peptidase (SPP) and facilitate the degradation of HO‐1 following intramembrane proteolysis. Our results highlight how ER‐resident ligases may target the same substrates, but work independently of each other, to optimise the protein quality control of selected soluble and tail‐anchored proteins.

Mammalian HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the rate-limiting enzyme of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway and the therapeutic target of statins, is post-transcriptionally regulated by sterol-accelerated degradation. Under cholesterol-replete conditions, HMGCR is ubiquitinated and degraded, but the identity of the E3 ubiquitin ligase(s) responsible for mammalian HMGCR turnover remains controversial. Using systematic, unbiased CRISPR/Cas9 genome-wide screens with a sterol-sensitive endogenous HMGCR reporter, we comprehensively map the E3 ligase landscape required for sterol-accelerated HMGCR degradation. We find that RNF145 and gp78 independently co-ordinate HMGCR ubiquitination and degradation. RNF145, a sterol-responsive ER-resident E3 ligase, is unstable but accumulates following sterol depletion. Sterol addition triggers RNF145 recruitment to HMGCR via Insigs, promoting HMGCR ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. In the absence of both RNF145 and gp78, Hrd1, a third UBE2G2-dependent E3 ligase, partially regulates HMGCR activity. Our findings reveal a critical role for the sterol-responsive RNF145 in HMGCR regulation and elucidate the complexity of sterol-accelerated HMGCR degradation.Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).

Loss‐of‐function mutations in APOPT1, a gene exclusively found in higher eukaryotes, cause a characteristic type of cavitating leukoencephalopathy associated with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency. Although the genetic association of APOPT1 pathogenic variants with isolated COX defects is now clear, the biochemical link between APOPT1 function and COX has remained elusive. We investigated the molecular role of APOPT1 using different approaches. First, we generated an Apopt1 knockout mouse model which shows impaired motor skills, e.g., decreased motor coordination and endurance, associated with reduced COX activity and levels in multiple tissues. In addition, by achieving stable expression of wild‐type APOPT1 in control and patient‐derived cultured cells we ruled out a role of this protein in apoptosis and established instead that this protein is necessary for proper COX assembly and function. On the other hand, APOPT1 steady‐state levels were shown to be controlled by the ubiquitination–proteasome system (UPS). Conversely, in conditions of increased oxidative stress, APOPT1 is stabilized, increasing its mature intramitochondrial form and thereby protecting COX from oxidatively induced degradation.

21HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the rate-limiting enzyme of the cholesterol biosynthetic 22 pathway and the therapeutic target of statins, is post-transcriptionally regulated by sterol-23 accelerated degradation. Under cholesterol-replete conditions, HMGCR is ubiquitinated and 24 degraded, but the identity of the E3 ubiquitin ligase(s) responsible for mammalian HMGCR 25 turnover remains controversial. Using systematic, unbiased CRISPR/Cas9 genome-wide 26 screens with a sterol-sensitive endogenous HMGCR reporter, we comprehensively map the 27 E3 ligase landscape required for sterol-accelerated HMGCR degradation. We find that 28 RNF145 and gp78, independently co-ordinate HMGCR ubiquitination and degradation. 29 RNF145, a sterol-responsive ER-resident E3 ligase, is unstable but accumulates following 30 sterol depletion. Sterol addition triggers RNF145 recruitment to HMGCR and Insig-1, 31promoting HMGCR ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. In the absence of 32 both RNF145 and gp78, Hrd1, a third UBE2G2-dependent ligase partially regulates HMGCR 33 activity. Our findings reveal a critical role for the sterol-responsive RNF145 in HMGCR 34 regulation and elucidate the complexity of sterol-accelerated HMGCR degradation. 35

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