8f6a
Thermoplasma acidophilum 20S proteasome - wild type
Structural highlights
FunctionPSB_THEAC Component of the proteasome core, a large protease complex with broad specificity involved in protein degradation. The T.acidophilum proteasome is able to cleave oligopeptides after Tyr, Leu, Phe, and to a lesser extent after Glu and Arg. Thus, displays chymotrypsin-like activity and low level of caspase-like and trypsin-like activities.[1] Publication Abstract from PubMedConsidering the link between neurodegenerative diseases and impaired proteasome function, and the neuro-protective impact of enhanced proteasome activity in animal models, it's crucial to understand proteasome activation mechanisms. A hydrophobic-tyrosine-any residue (HbYX) motif on the C-termini of proteasome-activating complexes independently triggers gate-opening of the 20S core particle for protein degradation; however, the causal allosteric mechanism remains unclear. Our study employs a structurally irreducible dipeptide HbYX mimetic to investigate the allosteric mechanism of gate-opening in the archaeal proteasome. High-resolution cryo-EM structures pinpoint vital residues and conformational changes in the proteasome alpha-subunit implicated in HbYX-dependent activation. Using point mutations, we simulated the HbYX-bound state, providing support for our mechanistic model. We discerned four main mechanistic elements triggering gate-opening: 1) back-loop rearrangement adjacent to K66, 2) intra- and inter- alpha subunit conformational changes, 3) occupancy of the hydrophobic pocket, and 4) a highly conserved isoleucine-threonine pair in the 20S channel stabilizing the open and closed states, termed the "IT switch." Comparison of different complexes unveiled convergent and divergent mechanism of 20S gate-opening among HbYX-dependent and independent activators. This study delivers a detailed molecular model for HbYX-dependent 20S gate-opening, enabling the development of small molecule proteasome activators that hold promise to treat neurodegenerative diseases. High resolution structures define divergent and convergent mechanisms of archaeal proteasome activation.,Chuah JJY, Rexroad MS, Smith DM Commun Biol. 2023 Jul 15;6(1):733. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-05123-3. PMID:37454196[2] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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