Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins
The covalent post-translational modification of selected substrates with the ubiquitin protein has emerged as a central regulatory mechanism, governing protein stability, activity and localisation, and accordingly an array of cellular processes. Ubiquitin signalling versatility arises owing to the d...
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| Format: | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| Language: | English |
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2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37671/ |
| _version_ | 1848795508282228736 |
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| author | Scott, Daniel |
| author_facet | Scott, Daniel |
| author_sort | Scott, Daniel |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The covalent post-translational modification of selected substrates with the ubiquitin protein has emerged as a central regulatory mechanism, governing protein stability, activity and localisation, and accordingly an array of cellular processes. Ubiquitin signalling versatility arises owing to the diverse nature of (poly)ubiquitin modification, with distinct modifications subsequently transduced in a specific manner by ubiquitin-binding domains found in ubiquitin-binding proteins. In recent years the notion that ubiquitin exerts influence solely via the covalent modification of substrates has been challenged, with unanchored, or substrate-free polyubiquitin chains emerging as key regulators of cellular physiology.
The investigations described in this thesis seek to exploit the inherent selectivity of natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins, to afford the purification of endogenous unanchored polyubiquitin, probing the molecular composition and interactions of this biologically significant ubiquitin pool. In chapter 3 by utilising the deubiquitinating enzyme USP5, which contains multiple ubiquitin-binding domains, and is normally responsible for the selective disassembly of unanchored ubiquitin, we purify unanchored polyubiquitin from mammalian cell extracts. Subsequently, we apply both ubiquitin-selective antibodies and mass spectrometry-based analyses to examine the polyubiquitin profile of the mammalian unanchored ubiquitin pool. In chapter 4 we then assess the mechanisms of ubiquitin recognition by USP5, presenting a structural mass spectrometry-based framework to probe and quantify ubiquitin: ubiquitin-binding domain interactions. Finally in chapter 5, based on the conclusions we draw from USP5-ubiquitin recognition in chapter 4, that multiple domains in suitable arrangement yield specificity for polyubiquitin chains, we design and synthesize a synthetic protein to favour the capture of unanchored polyubiquitin chains of defined topology, namely Lys-48 linked diubiquitin (and longer polyubiquitin chains), from mammalian cell extracts.
We conclude that strategies for the rational design and engineering of polyubiquitin chain-selective binding in non-biological polymers are possible, paving the way for the generation of reagents to probe the unanchored polyubiquitin chains of defined topology, and more widely the ‘ubiquitome’. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:33:12Z |
| format | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| id | nottingham-37671 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:33:12Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-376712025-02-28T13:34:26Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37671/ Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins Scott, Daniel The covalent post-translational modification of selected substrates with the ubiquitin protein has emerged as a central regulatory mechanism, governing protein stability, activity and localisation, and accordingly an array of cellular processes. Ubiquitin signalling versatility arises owing to the diverse nature of (poly)ubiquitin modification, with distinct modifications subsequently transduced in a specific manner by ubiquitin-binding domains found in ubiquitin-binding proteins. In recent years the notion that ubiquitin exerts influence solely via the covalent modification of substrates has been challenged, with unanchored, or substrate-free polyubiquitin chains emerging as key regulators of cellular physiology. The investigations described in this thesis seek to exploit the inherent selectivity of natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins, to afford the purification of endogenous unanchored polyubiquitin, probing the molecular composition and interactions of this biologically significant ubiquitin pool. In chapter 3 by utilising the deubiquitinating enzyme USP5, which contains multiple ubiquitin-binding domains, and is normally responsible for the selective disassembly of unanchored ubiquitin, we purify unanchored polyubiquitin from mammalian cell extracts. Subsequently, we apply both ubiquitin-selective antibodies and mass spectrometry-based analyses to examine the polyubiquitin profile of the mammalian unanchored ubiquitin pool. In chapter 4 we then assess the mechanisms of ubiquitin recognition by USP5, presenting a structural mass spectrometry-based framework to probe and quantify ubiquitin: ubiquitin-binding domain interactions. Finally in chapter 5, based on the conclusions we draw from USP5-ubiquitin recognition in chapter 4, that multiple domains in suitable arrangement yield specificity for polyubiquitin chains, we design and synthesize a synthetic protein to favour the capture of unanchored polyubiquitin chains of defined topology, namely Lys-48 linked diubiquitin (and longer polyubiquitin chains), from mammalian cell extracts. We conclude that strategies for the rational design and engineering of polyubiquitin chain-selective binding in non-biological polymers are possible, paving the way for the generation of reagents to probe the unanchored polyubiquitin chains of defined topology, and more widely the ‘ubiquitome’. 2016-12-15 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en arr https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37671/1/DS_corrected%20thesis.pdf Scott, Daniel (2016) Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. Ubiquitin signaling Polyubiquitin modification Ubiquitin binding domains Ubiquitin binding proteins |
| spellingShingle | Ubiquitin signaling Polyubiquitin modification Ubiquitin binding domains Ubiquitin binding proteins Scott, Daniel Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| title | Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| title_full | Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| title_fullStr | Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| title_short | Recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| title_sort | recognition of unanchored polyubiquitin by natural and engineered ubiquitin-binding proteins |
| topic | Ubiquitin signaling Polyubiquitin modification Ubiquitin binding domains Ubiquitin binding proteins |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37671/ |