Binding of elongin A or a von Hippel-Lindau peptide stabilizes the structure of yeast elongin C

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Aug 3;96(16):9033-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.16.9033.

Abstract

Elongin is a heterotrimeric transcription elongation factor composed of subunits A, B, and C in mammals. Elongin A and C are F-box-containing and SKP1 homologue proteins, respectively, and are therefore of interest for their potential roles in cell cycle-dependent proteolysis. Mammalian elongin C interacts with both elongin A and elongin B, as well as with the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein VHL. To investigate the corresponding interactions in yeast, we have utilized NMR spectroscopy combined with ultracentrifugal sedimentation experiments to examine complexes of yeast elongin C (Elc1) with yeast elongin A (Ela1) and two peptides from homologous regions of Ela1 and human VHL. Elc1 alone is a homotetramer composed of subunits with a structured N-terminal region and a dynamically unstable C-terminal region. Binding of a peptide fragment of the Elc1-interaction domain of Ela1 or with a homologous peptide from VHL promotes folding of the C-terminal region of Elc1 into two regular helical structures and dissociates Elc1 into homodimers. Moreover, analysis of the complex of Elc1 with the full Elc1-interaction domain of Ela1 reveals that the Elc1 homodimer is dissociated to preferentially form an Ela1/Elc1 heterodimer. Thus, elongin C is found to oligomerize in solution and to undergo significant structural rearrangements upon binding of two different partner proteins. These results suggest a structural basis for the interaction of an F-box-containing protein with a SKP1 homologue and the modulation of this interaction by the tumor suppressor VHL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Elongin
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Ligases*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Mammals
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases*
  • Ultracentrifugation
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein

Substances

  • ELOA protein, human
  • ELOB protein, human
  • ELOC protein, human
  • Eloa protein, rat
  • Elob protein, rat
  • Eloc protein, rat
  • Elongin
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
  • Ligases
  • VHL protein, human