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The mechanical stability of ubiquitin is linkage dependent

The mechanical stability of ubiquitin is linkage dependent Ubiquitin chains are formed through the action of a set of enzymes that covalently link ubiquitin either through peptide bonds or through isopeptide bonds between their C terminus and any of four lysine residues. These naturally occurring polyproteins allow one to study the mechanical stability of a protein, when force is applied through different linkages. Here we used single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques to examine the mechanical stability of N-C–linked and Lys48-C–linked ubiquitin chains. We combined these experiments with steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations and found that the mechanical stability and unfolding pathway of ubiquitin strongly depend on the linkage through which the mechanical force is applied to the protein. Hence, a protein that is otherwise very stable may be easily unfolded by a relatively weak mechanical force applied through the right linkage. This may be a widespread mechanism in biological systems. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Springer Journals

The mechanical stability of ubiquitin is linkage dependent

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References (48)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 by Nature Publishing Group
Subject
Life Sciences; Life Sciences, general; Biochemistry, general; Protein Structure; Membrane Biology; Biological Microscopy
ISSN
1545-9993
eISSN
1545-9985
DOI
10.1038/nsb965
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Ubiquitin chains are formed through the action of a set of enzymes that covalently link ubiquitin either through peptide bonds or through isopeptide bonds between their C terminus and any of four lysine residues. These naturally occurring polyproteins allow one to study the mechanical stability of a protein, when force is applied through different linkages. Here we used single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques to examine the mechanical stability of N-C–linked and Lys48-C–linked ubiquitin chains. We combined these experiments with steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations and found that the mechanical stability and unfolding pathway of ubiquitin strongly depend on the linkage through which the mechanical force is applied to the protein. Hence, a protein that is otherwise very stable may be easily unfolded by a relatively weak mechanical force applied through the right linkage. This may be a widespread mechanism in biological systems.

Journal

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology – Springer Journals

Published: Aug 17, 2003

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