Ubiquitination of BST-2 protein by HIV-1 Vpu protein does not require lysine, serine, or threonine residues within the BST-2 cytoplasmic domain

Jean K. Gustin, Janet L. Douglas, Ying Bai, Ashlee V. Moses

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

The cellular protein BST-2/CD317/Tetherin has been shown to inhibit the release of HIV-1 and other enveloped viruses from infected cells. The HIV-1 accessory protein Vpu binds to both BST-2 and βTrCP, a substrate- recognition subunit for the SCF (Skip1-Cullin1-F-box protein) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. This interaction leads to both the degradation of BST-2 and the enhancement of viral egress. Recently BST-2 was shown to be ubiquitinated in this process. Here we have confirmed the Vpu- and βTrCP-dependent multi/polyubiquitination of BST-2. Ubiquitinated BST-2 accumulated in cells treated with a lysosomal inhibitor but not a proteasomal inhibitor. Additionally, we observed that a BST-2 mutant deleted for its cytosolically exposed lysine residues is also ubiquitinated. Subsequent experiments suggested that Vpu promotes BST-2 ubiquitination upon amino acid residues bearing hydroxyl- but not thiol-bearing side chains. However, a BST-2 mutant bearing substitutions for its cytoplasmically exposed Ser, Thr, and Lys residues was still down-regulated, ubiquitinated, and degraded in a Vpu-dependent manner. Our results suggest that Vpu may target either the BST-2 cytoplasmic Tyr residues or the NH2 terminus itself for ubiquitination.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14837-14850
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume287
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 27 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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