Viral OTU deubiquitinases: a structural and functional comparison

Ben A Bailey-Elkin; Puck B van Kasteren; Eric J Snijder; Marjolein Kikkert; Brian L Mark

doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003894

Viral OTU deubiquitinases: a structural and functional comparison

PLoS Pathog. 2014 Mar 27;10(3):e1003894. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003894. eCollection 2014 Mar.

Authors

Ben A Bailey-Elkin¹, Puck B van Kasteren², Eric J Snijder², Marjolein Kikkert², Brian L Mark¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
² Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed that proteases encoded by three very diverse RNA virus groups share structural similarity with enzymes of the Ovarian Tumor (OTU) superfamily of deubiquitinases (DUBs). The publication of the latest of these reports in quick succession prevented proper recognition and discussion of the shared features of these viral enzymes. Here we provide a brief structural and functional comparison of these virus-encoded OTU DUBs. Interestingly, although their shared structural features and substrate specificity tentatively place them within the same protease superfamily, they also show interesting differences that trigger speculation as to their origins.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Protein Structure, Quaternary
RNA Viruses / enzymology*
Structure-Activity Relationship
Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / chemistry
Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / metabolism*
Viral Proteins / chemistry
Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

Viral Proteins
Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by NSERC Grant 311775-2010 to BLM and by the Division of Chemical Sciences of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-CW) through ECHO Grant 700.59.008 (to MK and EJS). BLM holds a Manitoba Research Chair award. BABE holds a Manitoba Health Research Council studentship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.