Development of new tools to study lipidated mammalian ATG8

Abstract Mammals conserve multiple mammalian ATG8 proteins (mATG8s) consisting of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light-chain 3 (LC3) subfamilies that tightly bind to the autophagic membranes in a lipidated form. They are crucial in selective autophagy and recruit proteins bearing LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs. However, because limited research tools are available, information about the specific roles of each lipidated mATG8 in selective autophagy is scarce. Here, we identified LIR motifs specific to the lipidated form of each mATG8 and characterized the residues critical for their selective interaction using cell-based assays and structural analyses. Then, we used these selective LIR motifs to develop probes and irreversible deconjugases that targeted selective lipidated mATG8s in the autophagic membrane, revealing that lipidated GABARAP subfamily proteins regulate aggrephagy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked protein aggregates. Our tools will be useful in elucidating the functional significance of each mATG8 protein in autophagy research.

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Two ubiquitin-like conjugation systems that mediate membrane formation during autophagy

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0550039 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 55 ◽

pp. 39-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

Hitoshi Nakatogawa

Keyword(s):

Light Chain ◽

Membrane Dynamics ◽

The Other ◽

Aminobutyric Acid ◽

Amino Group ◽

Autophagosome Formation ◽

Acid Receptor ◽

Receptor Associated Protein ◽

Atg Proteins ◽

C Terminus

In autophagy, the autophagosome, a transient organelle specialized for the sequestration and lysosomal or vacuolar transport of cellular constituents, is formed via unique membrane dynamics. This process requires concerted actions of a distinctive set of proteins named Atg (autophagy-related). Atg proteins include two ubiquitin-like proteins, Atg12 and Atg8 [LC3 (light-chain 3) and GABARAP (γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein) in mammals]. Sequential reactions by the E1 enzyme Atg7 and the E2 enzyme Atg10 conjugate Atg12 to the lysine residue in Atg5, and the resulting Atg12–Atg5 conjugate forms a complex with Atg16. On the other hand, Atg8 is first processed at the C-terminus by Atg4, which is related to ubiquitin-processing/deconjugating enzymes. Atg8 is then activated by Atg7 (shared with Atg12) and, via the E2 enzyme Atg3, finally conjugated to the amino group of the lipid PE (phosphatidylethanolamine). The Atg12–Atg5–Atg16 complex acts as an E3 enzyme for the conjugation reaction of Atg8; it enhances the E2 activity of Atg3 and specifies the site of Atg8–PE production to be autophagy-related membranes. Atg8–PE is suggested to be involved in autophagosome formation at multiple steps, including membrane expansion and closure. Moreover, Atg4 cleaves Atg8–PE to liberate Atg8 from membranes for reuse, and this reaction can also regulate autophagosome formation. Thus these two ubiquitin-like systems are intimately involved in driving the biogenesis of the autophagosomal membrane.

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Structural and biochemical advances on the recruitment of the autophagy-initiating ULK and TBK1 complexes by autophagy receptor NDP52

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abi6582 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (33) ◽

pp. eabi6582

Author(s):

Tao Fu ◽

Mingfang Zhang ◽

Zixuan Zhou ◽

Ping Wu ◽

Chao Peng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Complex ◽

Coiled Coil ◽

Aminobutyric Acid ◽

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽

Related Protein ◽

Binding Region ◽

Receptor Associated Protein ◽

Selective Autophagy ◽

Specific Association ◽

Molecular Bases

The recruitment of Unc-51-like kinase and TANK-binding kinase 1 complexes is essential for Nuclear dot protein 52-mediated selective autophagy and relies on the specific association of NDP52, RB1-inducible coiled-coil protein 1, and Nak-associated protein 1 (5-azacytidine-induced protein 2, AZI2). However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we find that except for the NDP52 SKIP carboxyl homology (SKICH)/RB1CC1 coiled-coil interaction, the LC3-interacting region of NDP52 can directly interact with the RB1CC1 Claw domain, as that of NAP1 FIP200-binding region (FIR). The determined crystal structures of NDP52 SKICH/RB1CC1 complex, NAP1 FIR/RB1CC1 complex, and the related NAP1 FIR/Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein complex not only elucidate the molecular bases underpinning the interactions of RB1CC1 with NDP52 and NAP1 but also reveal that RB1CC1 Claw and Autophagy-related protein 8 family proteins are competitive in binding to NAP1 and NDP52. Overall, our findings provide mechanistic insights into the interactions of NDP52, NAP1 with RB1CC1 and ATG8 family proteins.

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