Structural analysis of SHARPIN, a subunit of a large multi-protein E3 ubiquitin ligase, reveals a novel dimerization function for the pleckstrin homology superfold

J Biol Chem. 2012 Jun 15;287(25):20823-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.359547. Epub 2012 May 1.

Abstract

SHARPIN (SHANK-associated RH domain interacting protein) is part of a large multi-protein E3 ubiquitin ligase complex called LUBAC (linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex), which catalyzes the formation of linear ubiquitin chains and regulates immune and apoptopic signaling pathways. The C-terminal half of SHARPIN contains ubiquitin-like domain and Npl4-zinc finger domains that mediate the interaction with the LUBAC subunit HOIP and ubiquitin, respectively. In contrast, the N-terminal region does not show any homology with known protein interaction domains but has been suggested to be responsible for self-association of SHARPIN, presumably via a coiled-coil region. We have determined the crystal structure of the N-terminal portion of SHARPIN, which adopts the highly conserved pleckstrin homology superfold that is often used as a scaffold to create protein interaction modules. We show that in SHARPIN, this domain does not appear to be used as a ligand recognition domain because it lacks many of the surface properties that are present in other pleckstrin homology fold-based interaction modules. Instead, it acts as a dimerization module extending the functional applications of this superfold.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Proteins / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / chemistry*
  • Zinc Fingers

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • platelet protein P47
  • sharpin
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Associated data

  • PDB/4EMO