In eukaryotic cells, most proteins in the cytosol and nucleus are degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The 26S proteasome is a 2.5-MDa molecular machine built from approximately 31 different subunits, which catalyzes protein degradation. It contains a barrel-shaped proteolytic core complex (the 20S proteasome), capped at one or both ends by 19S regulatory complexes, which recognize ubiquitinated proteins. The regulatory complexes are also implicated in unfolding and translocation of ubiquitinated targets into the interior of the 20S complex, where they are degraded to oligopeptides. Structure, assembly and enzymatic mechanism of the 20S complex have been elucidated, but the functional organization of the 19S complex is less well understood. Most subunits of the 19S complex have been identified, however, specific functions have been assigned to only a few. A low-resolution structure of the 26S proteasome has been obtained by electron microscopy, but the precise arrangement of subunits in the 19S complex is unclear.

The three-dimensional structure of the proteasome from the archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilum has been elucidated by x-ray crystallographic analysis by means of isomorphous replacement and cyclic averaging. The atomic model was built and refined to a crystallographic R factor of 22.1 percent. The 673-kilodalton protease complex consists of 14 copies of two different subunits, alpha and beta, forming a barrel-shaped structure of four stacked rings. The two inner rings consist of seven beta subunits each, and the two outer rings consist of seven alpha subunits each. A narrow channel controls access to the three inner compartments. The alpha 7 beta 7 beta 7 alpha 7 subunit assembly has 72-point group symmetry. The structures of the alpha and beta subunits are similar, consisting of a core of two antiparallel beta sheets that is flanked by alpha helices on both sides. The binding of a peptide aldehyde inhibitor marks the active site in the central cavity at the amino termini of the beta subunits and suggests a novel proteolytic mechanism.

¨r Biochemie Am Klopferspitz 18a the chaperonins and have been referred to as "reverse chaperones" or "unfoldases" (Lupas et al., 1993). Since D-82152 Martinsried Germany their action requires the hydrolysis of ATP, protein degradation becomes energy-dependent, although the hydrolysis of the polypeptide chain itself is an exergonic Controlling Proteolysis process. through CompartmentalizationSelf-compartmentalizing proteases are common in all Protein degradation is a necessity for many reasons: three domains of life: archaea, bacteria, and eukarya. Homeostasis must be maintained while cellular struc-This bears testimony to an old evolutionary principle. In tures are continually rebuilt, in particular during developfact, contrary to organelles such as the lysosome, selfment or in response to external stimuli. Proteins miscompartmentalizing molecular devices offer far greater folded as a consequence of mutations or ensuing from flexibility: when equipped with the appropriate localizaheat or oxidative stress must be scavenged because tion signals, they can be deployed to different cellular they are prone to aggregation. Beyond these more munlocations in the cytosol or in the nucleus, wherever their dane "housekeeping" functions, protein degradation action is needed. The advances made in recent years provides a means to terminate the lifespan of many in understanding the structure of the proteasome and its regulatory proteins at distinct times; amongst them are mechanism of action has helped to shape the concept of cyclins, transcription factors, and components of signal self-compartmentalization, and the proteasome became transduction pathways (for reviews, see Coux et al., the paradigm of this form of regulation. 1996; Hilt and Wolf, 1996;Varshavsky, 1997). Moreover, the immune system relies on the availability of immuno-The 20S Proteasome: Core of the competent peptides generated by the degradation of Proteolytic Machinery foreign antigens (for reviews, see Goldberg et al., 1995; 20S Proteasomes Are Found in All Three Heemels and Ploegh, 1995).Domains of Life However, since protein degradation is also a hazard,The first description of a "cylinder-shaped" complex it must be subject to spatial and temporal control in with proteasome-like features dates back to the late order to prevent the destruction of proteins not destined sixties. The plethora of names given to it subsequently for degradation. A basic stratagem in controlling protein is a reflection of the problems that were encountered degradation is compartmentalization, that is, the conover a period of two decades in trying to define its finement of the proteolytic action to sites that can only biochemical properties and cellular functions. Enzymobe accessed by proteins displaying some sort of degralogical studies revealed an array of distinct proteolytic dation signal. Such a compartment can be an organelle activities and led to a consensus name, "multicatalytic delimited by a membrane, as in the case of the lysosome.proteinase" (Dahlmann et al., 1988). ...

The proteasome consists of a 20S proteolytic core particle (CP) and a 19S regulatory particle (RP), which selects ubiquitinated substrates for translocation into the CP. An eight-subunit subcomplex of the RP, the lid, can be dissociated from proteasomes prepared from a deletion mutant for Rpn10, an RP subunit. A second subcomplex, the base, contains all six proteasomal ATPases and links the RP to the CP. The base is sufficient to activate the CP for degradation of peptides or a nonubiquitinated protein, whereas the lid is required for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. By electron microscopy, the base and the lid correspond to the proximal and distal masses of the RP, respectively. The lid subunits share sequence motifs with components of the COP9/signalosome complex and eIF3, suggesting that these functionally diverse particles have a common evolutionary ancestry.

Despite the important role of prion domains in neurodegenerative disease, their physiological function has remained enigmatic. Previous work with yeast prions has defined prion domains as sequences that form self-propagating aggregates. Here, we uncovered an unexpected function of the canonical yeast prion protein Sup35. In stressed conditions, Sup35 formed protective gels via pH-regulated liquid-like phase separation followed by gelation. Phase separation was mediated by the N-terminal prion domain and regulated by the adjacent pH sensor domain. Phase separation promoted yeast cell survival by rescuing the essential Sup35 translation factor from stress-induced damage. Thus, prion-like domains represent conserved environmental stress sensors that facilitate rapid adaptation in unstable environments by modifying protein phase behavior.

The 26S proteasome is at the executive end of the ubiquitinproteasome pathway for the controlled degradation of intracellular proteins. While the structure of its 20S core particle (CP) has been determined by X-ray crystallography, the structure of the 19S regulatory particle (RP), which recruits substrates, unfolds them, and translocates them to the CP for degradation, has remained elusive. Here, we describe the molecular architecture of the 26S holocomplex determined by an integrative approach based on data from cryoelectron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, residue-specific chemical cross-linking, and several proteomics techniques. The "lid" of the RP (consisting of Rpn3/5/6/7/8/9/11/12) is organized in a modular fashion. Rpn3/5/6/7/9/12 form a horseshoe-shaped heterohexamer, which connects to the CP and roofs the AAAATPase module, positioning the Rpn8/Rpn11 heterodimer close to its mouth. Rpn2 is rigid, supporting the lid, while Rpn1 is conformationally variable, positioned at the periphery of the ATPase ring. The ubiquitin receptors Rpn10 and Rpn13 are located in the distal part of the RP, indicating that they were recruited to the complex late in its evolution. The modular structure of the 26S proteasome provides insights into the sequence of events prior to the degradation of ubiquitylated substrates.coiled coils | mass spectrometry | proteasome-COP9-eIF3 domain | proteasome-cyclosome repeats I n eukaryotes, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is essential for proteostasis: Misfolded proteins or otherwise defective proteins as well as short-lived regulatory proteins are eliminated by degradation (1). The UPP regulates many fundamental cellular processes, such as protein quality control, DNA repair, and signal transduction (for review see ref.2). The 26S proteasome is the most downstream element of the UPP, executing the degradation of polyubiquitylated substrates (3-5). It consists of the barrelshaped core particle (CP; approximately 700 kDa), which sequesters the proteolytically active site in its central cavity, and the regulatory particle (RP; approximately 900 kDa), which is attached at either one or both ends of the CP and prepares substrates for degradation (6).The RP consists of 19 different canonical subunits, including six regulatory particle AAA-ATPase subunits (Rpt1-6) and 13 regulatory particle non-ATPase subunits (Rpn1-3, Rpn5-13, and Rpn15). The integral ubiquitin (Ub) receptors Rpn10 and Rpn13 recognize polyubiquitylated substrates (7-9). Alternatively, polyubiquitylated substrates can be recruited by shuttling Ub-receptors (Dsk2, Rad23, Ddi2), which bind to substrates with their Ub-associated domain, and to Rpn1, Rpn10, or Rpn13 at their Ub-like domain (5). The metalloprotease Rpn11 deubiquitylates substrates prior to their degradation (10, 11). The functions of the other Rpn subunits remain to be established. The AAA-ATPases form a hexameric ring that unfolds substrates, opens the gate to the CP, and eventually translocates the substrates to the CP.Electron microscopy (EM) (12) and X-...

SUMMARY Class B G protein-coupled receptors are major targets for treatment of chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. Here we report the structure of a full-length class B receptor, the calcitonin receptor, in complex with peptide ligand and heterotrimeric Gαβγs protein determined by Volta phase plate single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. The peptide agonist engages the receptor through binding to an extended hydrophobic pocket facilitated by the large outward movement of the extracellular ends of transmembrane helices 6 and 7. This conformation is accompanied by a 60° kink in helix 6 and large outward movement of the intracellular end of this helix, opening the bundle to accommodate interactions with the α5-helix of Gαs. Also observed is an extended intracellular helix 8 that contributes to both receptor stability and functional G protein coupling via interaction with the Gβ subunit. This structure provides a new framework for understanding G protein-coupled receptor function.

Crista junctions (CJs) are important for mitochondrial organization and function, but the molecular basis of their formation and architecture is obscure. We have identified and characterized a mitochondrial membrane protein in yeast, Fcj1 (formation of CJ protein 1), which is specifically enriched in CJs. Cells lacking Fcj1 lack CJs, exhibit concentric stacks of inner membrane in the mitochondrial matrix, and show increased levels of F1FO–ATP synthase (F1FO) supercomplexes. Overexpression of Fcj1 leads to increased CJ formation, branching of cristae, enlargement of CJ diameter, and reduced levels of F1FO supercomplexes. Impairment of F1FO oligomer formation by deletion of its subunits e/g (Su e/g) causes CJ diameter enlargement and reduction of cristae tip numbers and promotes cristae branching. Fcj1 and Su e/g genetically interact. We propose a model in which the antagonism between Fcj1 and Su e/g locally modulates the F1FO oligomeric state, thereby controlling membrane curvature of cristae to generate CJs and cristae tips.