Siah1 is the central component of a multiprotein E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that targets -catenin for destruction in response to p53 activation. The E3 complex comprises, in addition to Siah1, Siah-interacting protein (SIP), the adaptor protein Skp1, and the F-box protein Ebi. Here we show that SIP engages Siah1 by means of two elements, both of which are required for mediating -catenin destruction in cells. An N-terminal dimerization domain of SIP sits across the saddle-shaped upper surface of Siah1, with two extended legs packing against the sides of Siah1 by means of a consensus PXAXVXP motif that is common to a family of Siah-binding proteins. The C-terminal domain of SIP, which binds to Skp1, protrudes from the lower surface of Siah1, and we propose that this surface provides the scaffold for bringing substrate and the E2 enzyme into apposition in the functional complex.Polyubiquitination of specific proteins in cells involves the concerted action of E1, 5 E2, and E3 enzymes. First, E1 covalently binds and activates ubiquitin for subsequent transfer to one of several E2s. The latter can in turn directly transfer its bound ubiquitin to the amino groups of lysine side chains in target proteins. More often, however, E3 ligases recognize substrates and direct their interaction with E2s, resulting in the highly specific regulation of target protein polyubiquitination (1, 2). Humans carry two highly related genes, siah1 and siah2 (3), that encode the mammalian homologs of the Drosophila Sina protein, which is required for R7 photoreceptor cell differentiation within the sevenless pathway (4, 5). Sina/Siah proteins are E3 ligases, acting either as single proteins or as part of a multiprotein complex that is analogous to the Skp1-cullin-1-F-box (SCF) complex. Among the targets of Sina/Siah are NcoR (6), DCC (7), c-Myb (8), BOB-1/OBF-1 (9, 10), Peg3/Pw1 (11), Kid (12), Numb (13) (24), and ␣-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (25). In addition, Siah interacts with adenomatous polyposis coli, a tumor suppressor involved in colon cancers (26); VAV, a nucleotide exchange factor involved in control of Rho/Rac proteins (27); BAG-1, a Hsp70/Hsc70-binding protein that modulates pathways involved in the control of cell proliferation, death, and migration (28, 29); and Dab-1, an inhibitor of Siah1 (30). However, Sina/Siah does not appear to target phyllopod, adenomatous polyposis coli, VAV, BAG-1, or Dab-1 for polyubiquitination and degradation. Thus, not all Siahbinding proteins are targets of Siah-mediated degradation.Recently, we discovered a novel pathway for -catenin degradation involving a complex formed by Siah1, SIP, the adaptor protein Skp1 that is common to the SCF complex, and the F-box protein Ebi that binds -catenin independent of phosphorylation (31). Siah1 expression is upregulated by p53, revealing a link between genotoxic injury and destruction of -catenin, reduced Tcf/LEF activity, and cell cycle arrest (31). Siah1 is a dimeric protein that contains an N-terminal RING domain (an E2 binding domain) followed by...