Differential ubiquitination and degradation of huntingtin fragments modulated by ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A

KP Bhat, S Yan, CE Wang, S Li… - Proceedings of the …, 2014 - National Acad Sciences
KP Bhat, S Yan, CE Wang, S Li, XJ Li
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014National Acad Sciences
Ubiquitination of misfolded proteins, a common feature of many neurodegenerative
diseases, is mediated by different lysine (K) residues in ubiquitin and alters the levels of
toxic proteins. In Huntington disease, polyglutamine expansion causes N-terminal huntingtin
(Htt) to misfold, inducing neurodegeneration. Here we report that shorter N-terminal Htt
fragments are more stable than longer fragments and find differential ubiquitination via K63
of ubiquitin. Aging decreases proteasome-mediated Htt degradation, at the same time …
Ubiquitination of misfolded proteins, a common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, is mediated by different lysine (K) residues in ubiquitin and alters the levels of toxic proteins. In Huntington disease, polyglutamine expansion causes N-terminal huntingtin (Htt) to misfold, inducing neurodegeneration. Here we report that shorter N-terminal Htt fragments are more stable than longer fragments and find differential ubiquitination via K63 of ubiquitin. Aging decreases proteasome-mediated Htt degradation, at the same time increasing K63-mediated ubiquitination and subsequent Htt aggregation in HD knock-in mice. The association of Htt with the K48-specific E3 ligase, Ube3a, is decreased in aged mouse brain. Overexpression of Ube3a in HD mouse brain reduces K63-mediated ubiquitination and Htt aggregation, enhancing its degradation via the K48 ubiquitin–proteasome system. Our findings suggest that aging-dependent Ube3a levels result in differential ubiquitination and degradation of Htt fragments, thereby contributing to the age-related neurotoxicity of mutant Htt.
National Acad Sciences