Open AccessMolecular Basis of Ubiquitination Catalyzed by the Bacterial Transglutaminase MavC
Author(s) -
Guan Hongxin,
Fu Jiaqi,
Yu Ting,
Wang ZhaoXi,
Gan Ninghai,
Huang Yini,
Perčulija Vanja,
Li Yu,
Luo ZhaoQing,
Ouyang Songying
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202000871
Subject(s) - ubiquitin , tissue transglutaminase , ternary complex , effector , enzyme , chemistry , biochemistry , ubiquitin ligase , legionella pneumophila , microbiology and biotechnology , ubiquitin protein ligases , biology , genetics , bacteria , gene
The Legionella pneumophila effector MavC is a transglutaminase that carries out atypical ubiquitination of the host ubiquitin (Ub)‐conjugation enzyme UBE2N by catalyzing the formation of an isopeptide bond between Gln40 Ub and Lys92 UBE2N , which leads to inhibition of signaling in the NF‐κB pathway. In the absence of UBE2N, MavC deamidates Ub at Gln40 or catalyzes self‐ubiquitination. However, the mechanisms underlying these enzymatic activities of MavC are poorly understood at the molecular level. This study reports the structure of the MavC–UBE2N–Ub ternary complex representing a snapshot of MavC‐catalyzed crosslinking of UBE2N and Ub, which reveals the way by which UBE2N–Ub binds to the Insertion and Tail domains of MavC. Based on the structural and experimental data, the catalytic mechanism for the deamidase and transglutaminase activities of MavC is proposed. Finally, by comparing the structures of MavC and MvcA, the homologous protein that reverses MavC‐induced UBE2N ubiquitination, several essential regions and two key residues (Trp255 MavC and Phe268 MvcA ) responsible for their respective enzymatic activities are identified. The results provide insights into the mechanisms for substrate recognition and ubiquitination mediated by MavC as well as explanations for the opposite activity of MavC and MvcA in terms of regulation of UBE2N ubiquitination.