Yeast DNA repair proteins Rad6 and Rad18 form a heterodimer that has ubiquitin conjugating, DNA binding, and ATP hydrolytic activities

J Biol Chem. 1997 Sep 12;272(37):23360-5. doi: 10.1074/jbc.272.37.23360.

Abstract

The RAD6 and RAD18 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are required for postreplicative bypass of ultraviolet (UV)-damaged DNA and for UV mutagenesis. The RAD6 encoded protein is a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, and RAD18 encodes a protein containing a RING finger motif and a nucleotide binding motif. Rad18 can be co-immunoprecipitated with Rad6, indicating that the two proteins exist in a complex in vivo. Here, we co-overproduce the two proteins using a yeast multicopy plasmid, purify the Rad6-Rad18 complex to near homogeneity, and show that the complex is heterodimeric. The Rad6-Rad18 heterodimer has ubiquitin conjugating activity, binds single-stranded DNA, and possesses single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity. The Rad6-Rad18 complex provides the first example wherein a ubiquitin conjugating activity is physically associated with DNA binding and ATPase activities provided by an associated protein factor. The co-existence of these activities should provide the complex with the ability to recognize single-stranded DNA resulting from stalling of the replication machinery at DNA damage sites and to recognize the components of the DNA replication machinery for ubiquitination by Rad6.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism*
  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Dimerization
  • Ligases / genetics
  • Ligases / isolation & purification
  • Ligases / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Ubiquitins / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RAD18 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Ubiquitins
  • RAD6 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Ligases