Despite the crucial role played by the glyoxylate cycle in the virulence of pathogens, seed germination in plants, and sexual development in fungi, we still have much to learn about its regulation. Here, we show that a previously uncharacterized SCF(Ucc1) ubiquitin ligase mediates proteasomal degradation of citrate synthase in the glyoxylate cycle to maintain metabolic homeostasis in glucose-grown cells. Conversely, transcription of the F box subunit Ucc1 is downregulated in C2-compound-grown cells, which require increased metabolic flux for gluconeogenesis. Moreover, in vitro analysis demonstrates that oxaloacetate regenerated through the glyoxylate cycle induces a conformational change in citrate synthase and inhibits its recognition and ubiquitination by SCF(Ucc1), suggesting the existence of an oxaloacetate-dependent positive feedback loop that stabilizes citrate synthase. We propose that SCF(Ucc1)-mediated regulation of citrate synthase acts as a metabolic switch for the glyoxylate cycle in response to changes in carbon source, thereby ensuring metabolic versatility and flexibility.

U biquitin-mediated proteolysis by the 26S proteasome plays an important role in the elimination of short-lived proteins (1), including those involved in cell cycle progression, cellular signaling in response to environmental stress or extracellular ligands, morphogenesis, secretion, DNA repair, and organelle biogenesis (2, 3). The pathway consists of two key steps, namely, the covalent attachment of multiple ubiquitin molecules to a target protein and the degradation of the ubiquitinated protein by the 26S proteasome complex. Several components act in concert to attach ubiquitin to a target protein, including a ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2), and a ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase (E3). E3 is directly responsible for substrate recognition. On the basis of structural similarity, E3 enzymes are classified into three families: the HECT (homologous to E6-AP COOH terminus) family, the U-box family, and the RING finger-containing protein family.The elongin B and C-Cul2 or Cul5-SOCS box protein (ECS) family belongs to the cullin RING ligase (CRL) superfamily (4). pVHL, the protein product of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene, is a member of the ECS family. pVHL forms a complex with elongins B and C, Cul2, and the RING finger protein Rbx1 (5, 6). The CRL2 pVHL complex has ubiquitin ligase activity and targets the hypoxia-inducible factor ␣ (HIF-␣) family of transcription factors (HIF-1 to -3␣) for proteasomal degradation (7). At normal oxygen levels, proline residues in the LXXLAP sequence motif of HIF-␣ proteins are hydroxylated by three prolyl hydroxylases (PHD1 to -3), and an in-depth study revealed that PHD2 is a critical enzyme for the hydroxylation of HIF-1␣ (8, 9). Hydroxylated HIF-␣ is targeted by pVHL for polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation (10-12). Under conditions of hypoxia (low oxygen level), HIF-␣ is not hydroxylated by PHDs and is therefore not recognized or targeted for degradation by pVHL. The unhydroxylated HIF-␣ dimerizes with constitutively expressed HIF-1␤, also known as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), and translocates to the nucleus, where it induces the transcription of downstream target genes, including the genes coding for vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1; also known as GLUT1), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (13). Loss of functional pVHL protein prevents the O 2 -dependent degradation of HIF-␣, resulting in constitutive expression of HIF-dependent genes and VHL disease, which is characterized by a variety of lesions, including hemangioblastomas, renal clear cell carcinomas, pheochromocytomas, pancreatic islet cell tumors, endolymphatic sac tumors, and papillary cystadenomas of the broad ligament (females) and epididymis (males) (13).Studies showing that heterozygous pVHL ϩ/Ϫ mice are phenotypically normal and VHL Ϫ/Ϫ mice die at embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) to E12.5 (14), together with the existence of many pVHLinteracting proteins (13), a...

Background: How the function of Rab5 isoforms is regulated remains unclear. Results: The third Rab5 isoform, Ypt53, is up-regulated significantly under nutrient stress. Conclusion:The up-regulated Ypt53 and the constitutive Vps21 are crucial for vesicle transport and vacuolar hydrolase activity, and they prevent ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Significance: The function of three Rab5 isoforms may be regulated differently to adapt to environmental changes.