Caenorhabditis elegans UBC-2 functions with the anaphase-promoting complex but also has other activities

J Cell Sci. 2004 Oct 15;117(Pt 22):5427-35. doi: 10.1242/jcs.01417. Epub 2004 Oct 5.

Abstract

The anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) is a multi-subunit ubiquitin ligase that regulates the eukaryotic cell cycle. APC/C belongs to the RING finger class of ubiquitin ligases that function by interacting with a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (Ubc), thus inciting the Ubc to transfer ubiquitin onto a target protein. Extensive studies with APC/C in other organisms have identified several possible Ubcs that might function as partners for APC/C. This report presents phenotypic and biochemical evidence showing that, in Caenorhabditis elegans, UBC-2 interacts specifically with the APC/C. This conclusion is based on three lines of evidence: first, the RNAi phenotype of ubc-2 is indistinguishable from RNAi phenotypes of APC/C subunits; second, RNAi of ubc-2 but not other Ubcs enhances the phenotype of hypomorphic APC/C mutants; third, purified UBC-2 and APC-11, the RING finger subunit of the APC/C, show robust ubiquitination activity in in vitro assays. APC-11 interaction is specific for UBC-2 as ubiquitination is not seen when APC-11 is combined other C. elegans Ubcs. As expected from the Ubc that functions with the APC/C, ubc-2(RNAi) produces metaphase blocks in both mitotic germ cells and in meiotic divisions of post-fertilization oocytes. In addition, ubc-2(RNAi) results in two germline phenotypes that appear to be unrelated to the APC/C: an expanded transition zone indicative of a pre-pachytene meiotic arrest and endo-reduplicated oocytes indicative of a problem in ovulation or oocyte-soma interactions.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anaphase
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
  • Meiosis
  • Metaphase
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mitosis
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • let-70 protein, C elegans
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases