Role of individual subunits of the Neurospora crassa CSN complex in regulation of deneddylation and stability of cullin proteins

PLoS Genet. 2010 Dec 2;6(12):e1001232. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001232.

Abstract

The Cop9 signalosome (CSN) is an evolutionarily conserved multifunctional complex that controls ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation in eukaryotes. We found seven CSN subunits in Neurospora crassa in a previous study, but only one subunit, CSN-2, was functionally characterized. In this study, we created knockout mutants for the remaining individual CSN subunits in N. crassa. By phenotypic observation, we found that loss of CSN-1, CSN-2, CSN-4, CSN-5, CSN-6, or CSN-7 resulted in severe defects in growth, conidiation, and circadian rhythm; the defect severity was gene-dependent. Unexpectedly, CSN-3 knockout mutants displayed the same phenotype as wild-type N. crassa. Consistent with these phenotypic observations, deneddylation of cullin proteins in csn-1, csn-2, csn-4, csn-5, csn-6, or csn-7 mutants was dramatically impaired, while deletion of csn-3 did not cause any alteration in the neddylation/deneddylation state of cullins. We further demonstrated that CSN-1, CSN-2, CSN-4, CSN-5, CSN-6, and CSN-7, but not CSN-3, were essential for maintaining the stability of Cul1 in SCF complexes and Cul3 and BTB proteins in Cul3-BTB E3s, while five of the CSN subunits, but not CSN-3 and CSN-5, were also required for maintaining the stability of SKP-1 in SCF complexes. All seven CSN subunits were necessary for maintaining the stability of Cul4-DDB1 complexes. In addition, CSN-3 was also required for maintaining the stability of the CSN-2 subunit and FWD-1 in the SCF(FWD-1) complex. Together, these results not only provide functional insights into the different roles of individual subunits in the CSN complex, but also establish a functional framework for understanding the multiple functions of the CSN complex in biological processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COP9 Signalosome Complex
  • Cullin Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cullin Proteins / genetics
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Neurospora crassa / chemistry
  • Neurospora crassa / enzymology*
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics
  • Peptide Hydrolases / genetics
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Stability
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism

Substances

  • Cullin Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Protein Subunits
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • COP9 Signalosome Complex