Structural highlights
Function
UBI4P_YEAST Ubiquitin exists either covalently attached to another protein, or free (unanchored). When covalently bound, it is conjugated to target proteins via an isopeptide bond either as a monomer (monoubiquitin), a polymer linked via different Lys residues of the ubiquitin (polyubiquitin chains) or a linear polymer linked via the initiator Met of the ubiquitin (linear polyubiquitin chains). Polyubiquitin chains, when attached to a target protein, have different functions depending on the Lys residue of the ubiquitin that is linked: Lys-6-linked may be involved in DNA repair; Lys-11-linked is involved in ERAD (endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation) and in cell-cycle regulation; Lys-29-linked is involved in lysosomal degradation; Lys-33-linked is involved in kinase modification; Lys-48-linked is involved in protein degradation via the proteasome; Lys-63-linked is involved in endocytosis, and DNA-damage responses. Linear polymer chains formed via attachment by the initiator Met lead to cell signaling. Ubiquitin is usually conjugated to Lys residues of target proteins, however, in rare cases, conjugation to Cys or Ser residues has been observed. When polyubiquitin is free (unanchored-polyubiquitin), it also has distinct roles, such as in activation of protein kinases, and in signaling (By similarity).
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Single amino acid substitutions rarely produce substantial changes in protein structure. Here we show that substitution of the C-cap residue in the alpha-helix of ubiquitin with proline (34P variant) leads to dramatic structural changes. The resulting conformational perturbation extends over the last two turns of the alpha-helix and leads to enhanced flexibility for residues 27-37. Thermodynamic analysis of this ubiquitin variant using differential scanning calorimetry reveals that the thermal unfolding transition remains highly cooperative, exhibiting two-state behavior. Similarities with the wild type in the thermodynamic parameters (heat capacity change upon unfolding and m-value) of unfolding monitored by DSC and chemical denaturation suggests that the 34P variant has comparable buried surface area. The hydrophobic core of 34P variant is not packed as well as that of the wild type protein as manifested by a lower enthalpy of unfolding. The increased mobility of the polypeptide chain of this ubiquitin variant allows the transient opening of the hydrophobic core as evidenced by ANS binding. Taken together, these results suggest exceptional robustness of cooperativity in protein structures.
Elimination of the C-cap in ubiquitin - structure, dynamics and thermodynamic consequences.,Ermolenko DN, Dangi B, Gvritishvili A, Gronenborn AM, Makhatadze GI Biophys Chem. 2007 Mar;126(1-3):25-35. Epub 2006 Apr 5. PMID:16713063[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Ermolenko DN, Dangi B, Gvritishvili A, Gronenborn AM, Makhatadze GI. Elimination of the C-cap in ubiquitin - structure, dynamics and thermodynamic consequences. Biophys Chem. 2007 Mar;126(1-3):25-35. Epub 2006 Apr 5. PMID:16713063 doi:10.1016/j.bpc.2006.03.017
