Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The 20S proteasome, a multi-subunit protease complex, present in all domains of life and some orders of bacteria, is involved in degradation of the majority of cellular proteins. Structurally, it is made of α and β subunits arranged in four heptameric rings, with inner two β-rings sandwiched between outer two α-rings. The 20S proteasome in prokaryotes usually has one type of α and one type of β subunits, whereas eukaryotes have seven distinct types of α and seven distinct types of β subunits. Unlike the highly conserved structure of proteasome, its assembly pathway is different across the domains. In archaea and eukaryotes, proteasome assembly begins with α subunit interactions leading to the α-ring formation. By contrast, bacterial proteasome assembly pathway bypasses the α-ring formation step by initiating assembly through an α and β subunit interaction first. These early interactions are not well understood due to their highly rapid and dynamic nature. This dissertation focused on understanding the early events in proteasome assembly and contributed three significant findings. First, the archaeal proteasome assembly can also begin without formation of α-rings, demonstrating the coexistence of a bacterial-like assembly pathway. Second, a novel assembly intermediate was identified in yeast, and its composition argues for the presence of a similar α-ring independent assembly pathway. Third, the assembly chaperone Pba3-Pba4 prevents the formation of high molecular weight complexes arising from spontaneous and non-productive interactions among the α subunits. These findings provide a broader understanding of proteasome biogenesis and suggest considering proteasome assembly event as a network of interactions rather than a linear pathway. The results also shed light on assembly chaperone’s contribution in increasing the efficiency of proteasome assembly by streamlining the productive interactions. / 2020-12-07

A oxidação de proteínas é um fenômeno metabólico e a degradação de proteínas oxidativamente modificadas confere uma proteção para a célula, evitando acúmulo e a agregação das mesmas. A ineficiência na remoção destas proteínas está relacionada ao processo de envelhecimento e ao aparecimento de doenças neurodegenerativas. A unidade catalítica do proteassomo, denominada de 20S (PT20S), é a principal via de degradação de proteínas danificadas pela oxidação sem que haja gasto de ATP, acoplamento de subunidades regulatórias ou poli-ubiquitinação do substrato proteico. A unidade PT20 por sua vez, pode sofrer modificação pós-traducional chamada de S-glutationilação, que aumenta a velocidade degradação proteica por processo independente de poli-ubiquitinação. Em levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), foram identificados apenas dois resíduos de Cys glutationilados, ambos na subunidade α5 (α5-76 e α5-221). A S-glutationilação ocasiona a abertura da câmara catalítica e uma maior eficiência na degradação de proteínas. Mutações sítio-específicas foram realizadas nessas Cys pela substituição por Ser. As consequências estruturais e funcionais dessas mutações foram o aumento da frequência da conformação fechada da câmara catalítica no α5-76S-PT20S e α5-221S-PT20S. As linhagens que carregam essas mutações apresentaram menor tempo de vida cronológico. Uma dupla mutação randômica na subunidade α5 (S35P / C221S) induziu a abertura da câmera catalítica do 20SPT e esta linhagem apresentou tempo de vida cronológico significativamente aumentado e , aumento na resistência ao estresse oxidativo em paralelo ao aumento da atividade catalítica do 20SPT. O objetivo neste projeto de pesquisa foi realizar uma análise proteômica quantitativa no extrato celular das linhagens mutantes, com o objetivo de identificar proteínas que possam estar relacionadas com a regulação da longevidade celular. Foram selecionadas as linhagens que carregam as mutações: α5-76S e α5-S35P/C221S uma vez que apresentaram expectativa de vida oposta em relação à linhagem selvagem, além de queda e aumento da frequência da conformação aberta da câmera catalítica, respectivamente. A partir da quantificação sem marcação (Label-free quantification), foram identificadas 723-1000 proteínas nas amostras das linhagens selvagem e mutantes. Dentre elas, destacam-se as proteínas 3-isopropilmalato isomerase e argininossuccinato sintase, envolvidas na síntese de leucina e arginina, respectivamente, aumentadas na linhagem mutante C76S e reduzidas na linhagem S35P/C221S. O metabolismo de ambos os aminoácidos está relacionado com a via de sinalização TOR que, por sua vez, está envolvida com o tempo de vida cronológico em levedura. / The protein oxidation is a metabolic phenomenon and the degradation of oxidatively modified proteins confers a protection to cell, avoiding accumulation and aggregation of these proteins. The inefficiency in the removal of these proteins is related to aging process and neurodegenerative diseases. The catalytic unit of the proteasome, named 20S (PT20S) is the main degradative pathway of oxidized proteins in an ATP-independent manner, without proteasomal regulatory units assembly or protein poliubiquitination. The PT20 unit undergoes a post-translational modification named S-glutationilation, which increases the protein degradation by the ATP-independent process. In yeast, only two Cys residues were identified glutationilated, both in the α5 subunit (α5-C76 e α5-C221). The S-glutationilation causes opening of the catalytic chamber and higher efficiency of protein hydrolysis. Site-specific mutations were performed in those Cys residues by their replacement to Ser. The structural and functional consequences of mutations were the increasedfrequency of theclosed conformation of the catalytic chamber in the α5-76S-PT20S and α5-221S-PT20S. The strains carrying those mutations presented shorter chronological life span. A double random mutation in the α5 subunit (S35P / C221S) induced the opening of 20SPT catalytic chamber together toextended chronological life span and, increased resistant to oxidative stress in parallel to increased catalytic activity of the 20SPT. The goal of this project was to perform a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis in the mutant strains to identify proteins that could be related with the regulation of cellularlifespan. From that quantification, 723 - 1000 proteins were identified in the samples of the wild-type and mutant strains. Among these proteins, 3-isopropylmalate isomerase and argininesuccinate sintase, involved in the leucine and arginine biosynthesis, respectively, were found increased in the C76S mutant strain and reduced in the S35P/C221S mutant strain. The metabolism of both amino acids is related with TOR signallingthat, in turn,modulates chronological lifespan in yeast

No description available.

Neste trabalho foi realizada a síntese de amidas, bem como de ácidos e ésteres borônicos, derivados dos aminoácidos L-cistina e L-cisteína, através de rota sintética simples, curta e de baixo custo, com o intuito de busca e a identificação de novo(s) inibidor(es) do proteassomo 20S. Esta classe de compostos possui estrutura que permite a inserção de diversos grupos funcionais, o que confere versatilidade e a construção de biblioteca de compostos que contém partes hidrofílicas e hidrofóbicas importantes para posterior avaliação inibitória. Para tanto, empregou-se rota sintética química convencional e rota biocatalisada para a formação da ligação amida. Os compostos derivados de L-cisteína foram obtidos via síntese clássica de peptídeos a qual forneceu os compostos desejados em rendimentos de até 85%. Por outro lado, tentativas de obtenção das amidas via biocatálise não se mostraram efetivas. Já amidas derivadas de L-cistina foram obtidas em rendimentos de até 79%, via síntese tradicional e até 100% de conversão através de rota biocatalítica. A inserção do átomo de boro nas estruturas se deu utilizando-se metodologias sintéticas já bem estabelecidas na literatura. Os ésteres borônicos derivados de L-cisteína foram obtidos em bons rendimentos (até 78%), enquanto que não foi possível obter-se compostos de boro derivados de L-cistina. Por sua vez, os compostos contendo ácido borônico na estrutura foram sintetizados via reação de hidrólise dos respectivos ésteres borônicos, em rendimentos moderados (até 34%). Após a obtenção dos compostos contendo grupamentos organoboro realizou-se avaliação inibitória dos mesmos frente ao proteassomo 20S. Valores de IC50 iguais a 52 µM foram obtidos para composto derivado de L-cisteína contendo grupamento éster borônico, que se mostraram inibidores moderados e reversíveis. Ácidos borônicos se mostraram sem capacidade de inibir o proteassomo 20S. Adicionalmente, realizaram-se estudos de modelagem molecular com a finalidade de elucidar os resultados obtidos experimentalmente. Inicialmente realizaram-se cálculos de modelagem molecular através da realização de docking de alguns compostos e após geração de modelo farmacofórico. De maneira geral observou-se que os inibidores derivados da L-cisteína não ocupam a mesma cavidade que o fármaco bortezomibe, o que pode explicar a diferença na atividade dos compostos frente à inibição do proteassomo 20S. Também se observou que, tendo-se a interação dos inibidores com a enzima, a vizinhança do átomo de boro tem grande influência na capacidade inibitória, uma vez que estes grupamentos determinam qual a região da cavidade do proteassomo 20S será ocupada pelo inibidor. / In our study, amides, boronic acids and esters derivatives from L-cysteine and L-cysteine were synthesized by simple, short and inexpensive synthetic route, in order to search for new inhibitor(s) of the 20S proteasome. This class of compounds has a structure that allows inclusion of various functional groups, giving it versatility and allowing the construction of library compounds containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, important for further evaluation. To this end, we used conventional chemical synthetic route and biocatalysis for peptide bond formation. The compounds derived from L-cysteine were obtained by classical synthesis of peptides which provided the desired compounds up to 85% yields. On the other hand, attempts to obtain the amides via biocatalysis were not effective. However, amides derived from L-cystine were obtained with up to 79% yields via chemical synthesis and conversion up to 100% using biocatalytic route. The insertion of the boron atom in the structures was possible using synthetic methodologies well established in literature. Boronic esters derived from L-cysteine were obtained in good yields (up to 78%), whereas it was not possible to obtain boron compounds derived from L-cystine. In turn, compounds containing boronic acids in the structure were synthesized by hydrolysis reaction of the respective boronic esters in moderate yields (up to 34%). With organoboron compounds in hand, we turned our attention to inhibitory assessment against the 20S proteasome. IC50 up to 52 µM were obtained when L-cysteine boronic ester derivatives were evaluated. These compounds are moderate and reversible inhibitors. L-cysteine boronic acids derivatives have shown not ability to inhibit the 20S proteasome. Additionally, molecular modeling studies were carried out in order to elucidate the results obtained experimentally. Initially molecular modeling calculations were carried out by performing docking experiments of some compounds. Generation of pharmacophoric model calculations was also executed. In general, it was observed that inhibitors derived from L-cysteine do not occupy the same cavity that drug bortezomib, which may explain the difference in the activity of compounds against the inhibition of 20S proteasome. We also observed that, with the interaction of inhibitors and enzyme, the side chains around boron atom has a great influence on inhibitory capacity, since these groups determine which region of the 20S proteasome cavity is occupied by the inhibitor.

Neste trabalho foi realizada a síntese de amidas, bem como de ácidos e ésteres borônicos, derivados dos aminoácidos L-cistina e L-cisteína, através de rota sintética simples, curta e de baixo custo, com o intuito de busca e a identificação de novo(s) inibidor(es) do proteassomo 20S. Esta classe de compostos possui estrutura que permite a inserção de diversos grupos funcionais, o que confere versatilidade e a construção de biblioteca de compostos que contém partes hidrofílicas e hidrofóbicas importantes para posterior avaliação inibitória. Para tanto, empregou-se rota sintética química convencional e rota biocatalisada para a formação da ligação amida. Os compostos derivados de L-cisteína foram obtidos via síntese clássica de peptídeos a qual forneceu os compostos desejados em rendimentos de até 85%. Por outro lado, tentativas de obtenção das amidas via biocatálise não se mostraram efetivas. Já amidas derivadas de L-cistina foram obtidas em rendimentos de até 79%, via síntese tradicional e até 100% de conversão através de rota biocatalítica. A inserção do átomo de boro nas estruturas se deu utilizando-se metodologias sintéticas já bem estabelecidas na literatura. Os ésteres borônicos derivados de L-cisteína foram obtidos em bons rendimentos (até 78%), enquanto que não foi possível obter-se compostos de boro derivados de L-cistina. Por sua vez, os compostos contendo ácido borônico na estrutura foram sintetizados via reação de hidrólise dos respectivos ésteres borônicos, em rendimentos moderados (até 34%). Após a obtenção dos compostos contendo grupamentos organoboro realizou-se avaliação inibitória dos mesmos frente ao proteassomo 20S. Valores de IC50 iguais a 52 µM foram obtidos para composto derivado de L-cisteína contendo grupamento éster borônico, que se mostraram inibidores moderados e reversíveis. Ácidos borônicos se mostraram sem capacidade de inibir o proteassomo 20S. Adicionalmente, realizaram-se estudos de modelagem molecular com a finalidade de elucidar os resultados obtidos experimentalmente. Inicialmente realizaram-se cálculos de modelagem molecular através da realização de docking de alguns compostos e após geração de modelo farmacofórico. De maneira geral observou-se que os inibidores derivados da L-cisteína não ocupam a mesma cavidade que o fármaco bortezomibe, o que pode explicar a diferença na atividade dos compostos frente à inibição do proteassomo 20S. Também se observou que, tendo-se a interação dos inibidores com a enzima, a vizinhança do átomo de boro tem grande influência na capacidade inibitória, uma vez que estes grupamentos determinam qual a região da cavidade do proteassomo 20S será ocupada pelo inibidor. / In our study, amides, boronic acids and esters derivatives from L-cysteine and L-cysteine were synthesized by simple, short and inexpensive synthetic route, in order to search for new inhibitor(s) of the 20S proteasome. This class of compounds has a structure that allows inclusion of various functional groups, giving it versatility and allowing the construction of library compounds containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, important for further evaluation. To this end, we used conventional chemical synthetic route and biocatalysis for peptide bond formation. The compounds derived from L-cysteine were obtained by classical synthesis of peptides which provided the desired compounds up to 85% yields. On the other hand, attempts to obtain the amides via biocatalysis were not effective. However, amides derived from L-cystine were obtained with up to 79% yields via chemical synthesis and conversion up to 100% using biocatalytic route. The insertion of the boron atom in the structures was possible using synthetic methodologies well established in literature. Boronic esters derived from L-cysteine were obtained in good yields (up to 78%), whereas it was not possible to obtain boron compounds derived from L-cystine. In turn, compounds containing boronic acids in the structure were synthesized by hydrolysis reaction of the respective boronic esters in moderate yields (up to 34%). With organoboron compounds in hand, we turned our attention to inhibitory assessment against the 20S proteasome. IC50 up to 52 µM were obtained when L-cysteine boronic ester derivatives were evaluated. These compounds are moderate and reversible inhibitors. L-cysteine boronic acids derivatives have shown not ability to inhibit the 20S proteasome. Additionally, molecular modeling studies were carried out in order to elucidate the results obtained experimentally. Initially molecular modeling calculations were carried out by performing docking experiments of some compounds. Generation of pharmacophoric model calculations was also executed. In general, it was observed that inhibitors derived from L-cysteine do not occupy the same cavity that drug bortezomib, which may explain the difference in the activity of compounds against the inhibition of 20S proteasome. We also observed that, with the interaction of inhibitors and enzyme, the side chains around boron atom has a great influence on inhibitory capacity, since these groups determine which region of the 20S proteasome cavity is occupied by the inhibitor.

Das Ubiquitin-Proteasom-System sorgt in eukaryontischen Zellen für einen kontrollierten Abbau von Proteinen. Das 20S Proteasom ist als Multikatalytischer Protease Komplex der zentrale Bestandteil dieses Systems. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich gereinigtes 20S Proteasom aus HeLa-Zellen chromatographisch in Subtypen auftrennen lässt, die sich strukturell und in ihrer proteolytischen Aktivität unterscheiden. Nach Induktion der Zellen mit gamma-Interferon (gamma-IFN) werden Immuno-Proteasomen gebildet und es kommt zu einer Veränderung des Subtypen-Musters und der Aktivitäten. Unter dem Einfluss von gamma-IFN bilden sich hauptsächlich Mischkomplexe mit sowohl konstitutiven als auch Immuno-Untereinheiten. Weiterhin konnte gezeigt werden, dass in den Zellkompartimenten Cytoplasma, Zellkern und Microsomen von HeLaS3-Zellen unterschiedliche 20S Proteasom-Subtypen vorkommen. Dies war unter anderem auf eine unterschiedliche Glykosylierung einzelner proteasomaler Untereinheiten zurückzuführen. Die genaue Kenntnis von Struktur und Funktion der 20S Proteasom-Subtypen ist im Hinblick auf neue diagnostische und therapeutische Ansätze in der Humanmedizin von großem Interesse. / The Ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible for the regulated protein degradation in eucaryotic cells. The 20S proteasome is as a multicatalytic protease the central complex of these system. This study has shown that it is possible to separate 20S proteasome subtypes from HeLa cells by chromatography. 20s proteasome subtypes differ in structure and proteolytic activity. The subtype-pattern and the activity are significantly changed after an induction of the cells with gamma-Interferon (gamma-IFN) under formation of immuno proteasomes. After gamma-IFN induction mainly mixed complexes have been formed with both constitutive and immuno subunits. Further it has been shown that in cell compartements cytoplasm, microsomes and nucleus of HeLaS3 cells different 20S proteasome subtypes are located. Among other things glycosylation of some subunits is responsible for that phenomenon. With regard to new strategies in diagnostic and therapy of human diseases the exactly knowledge of structure and function of the proteasome subtypes is a case of interest.

Der Großteil MHC Klasse I restringierter Epitope wird bei der Proteindegradation durch das Ubiquitin Proteasom System (UPS) generiert. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Rolle des UPS in der Antigenpräsenation in einer Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) induzierten akuten und chronischen Myokarditis untersucht. Für in vitro Degradationsexperimente mit isolierten 20S Proteasomen wurden CVB3 Polypeptide synthetisiert und die Degradationsprodukte massenspektrometrisch analysiert. Eine erhöhte Substratumsatzrate und eine Verschiebung von Schnittpräferenzen durch Immunoproteasomen oder unter dem Einfluss von PA28 führten zu einer verbesserten Generierung immunrelevanter CVB3 Fragmente. Inflammatorische Kardiomyopathien können in Mäusen durch eine CVB3 Infektion ausgelöst werden. Resistente Stämme (C57BL/6) eliminieren das Virus vollständig, in anfälligen Mäusen (A.BY/SnJ) erfolgt keine vollständige Elimination. In Herzen gesunder Mäuse werden vorwiegend konstitutive 20S Proteasomen exprimiert. Eine myokardiale Entzündung, ausgelöst durch eine CVB3 Infektion, führte in den Herzen beider Mausstämme zu der Bildung von Immunoproteasomen, was zu einer gesteigerten Generierung immunrelevanter CVB3 Fragmente führte. Die größte Menge immunrelevanter Fragmente wurden durch Proteasomen gebildet, die am Tag vier aus den Herzen akut erkrankender C57BL/6 Mäuse und am Tag acht aus chronisch erkrankenden A.BY/SnJ Mäusen isoliert wurden. Dies korrelierte mit der Inkorporation von Immunountereinheiten in de novo assemblierende Proteasomen und einer unterschiedlichen Interferon (IFN) Typ I Kinetik. In Geweben lymphatischen Ursprungs hingegen waren Zusammensetzung und proteolytische Aktivität der Proteasomen im Verlauf der Infektion in beiden Mausstämmen unverändert. Die vorliegende Arbeit unterstreicht die Bedeutung einer zeitlich optimalen IFN Sekretion an der Infektionsstelle, die zu der Anpassung des UPS an die inflammatorischen Bedingungen führt. / The recognition of viral antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules by CD8+ T cells is crucial for virus elimination. Most MHC class I restricted antigenic peptides are produced by the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS). In the present study, the impact of the UPS in antigen presentation during Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) induced acute and chronic myocarditis has been investigated. To examine whether the proteasome is involved in the generation of MHC class I ligands derived from the CVB3 polyprotein, polypeptides were synthesized for in vitro processing by 20S proteasomes. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated an enhanced generation of immunorelevant CVB3 fragments due to an increased substrate degradation rate and altered cleavage site preferences by immunoproteasomes or in the presence of PA28. Murine models of CVB3 induced myocarditis mimic human disease pattern with diverse outcomes. Permissive mice (A.BY/SnJ) develop chronic myocarditis with cardiac CVB3 persistence whereas resistant mice (C57BL/6) recover and eliminate the virus after acute infection. Constitutive 20S proteasomes are mainly expressed in hearts of healthy mice. Myocardial inflammation, caused by a CVB3 infection, resulted in immunoproteasome formation in hearts of both, resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible A.BY/SnJ mice, and was correlated with enhanced generation of immunorelevant CVB3 peptides. In concurrence with distinctive type I interferon kinetics, immunoproteasome formation and improved epitope generation peaked on day 4 post infection in resistant mice, and was delayed in susceptible mice. No alterations were observed in assembly and proteolytic activity of 20S proteasomes in lymphatic tissues during CVB3 infection, independent from mouse strain. The results emphasise the impact of a rapid adjustment of the UPS to viral infection due to early secretion of type I interferon at site of infection.

20S Proteasomen der Leber gehören ausschließlich zur Population der Intermediär-Proteasomen. Chromatographisch sind drei proteasomale Subpopulationen aufgrund unterschiedlicher Oberflächenhydrophobizität trennbar. Diese beinhalten unterschiedliche Mengen der Standard- und Immunountereinheiten und zeigen unterschiedliche spezifische Aktivitäten gegenüber kurzen fluorigenen Peptidsubstraten. Außerdem lassen sie sich deutlich anhand der Schnittfrequenzen bei Hydrolyse von Polypeptidsubstraten unterscheiden. Jede dieser Subpopulationen konnte aufgrund unterschiedlicher Oberflächenladung in bis zu 5 verschiedene 20S Proteasom-Subtypen unterteilt werden, die wiederum unterschiedliche Mengen an Standard- und Immununtereinheiten enthielten. Jeder dieser Subtypen zeigte unterschiedliche Eigenschaften bezüglich der spezifischen Aktivitäten und Hydrolysegeschwindigkeiten von Polypeptidsubstraten. Unterschiede wurden auch bezüglich ihrer Peptid-Spleiß-Aktivitäten nachgewiesen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden darüber hinaus Veränderungen der Spektren proteasomaler Subtypen- und ihrer Eigenschaften im Lebergewebe von 2, 8 und 23 Monate alten Ratten nachgewiesen. Während die Gesamtmenge der Leber-Proteasomen mit steigendem Alter abnahm, nahm die Menge der Subtypen mit integrierten Immununtereinheiten zu. Gleichzeitig kam es zu einer altersabhängigen Zunahme der Hydrolysegeschwindigkeit gegenüber Polypeptide-Substraten sowie veränderten Schnitthäufigkeiten. Die altersabhängigen intramolekularen Umgestaltungen von Leberproteasomen könnten eine funktionelle Anpassung an die altersbedingten zellulären Veränderungen in Verbindung mit Veränderungen der MHC Klasse I Antigen-Präsentation darstellen. / 20S proteasomes isolated from rat liver belong to the population of intermediate type proteasomes. Three subpopulations were separated by chromatography due to their differences in surface hydrophobicity. These subpopulations contain different types of intermediate type proteasomes with standard- and immunosubunits exhibiting distinct specific activities towards short fluorogenic substrates. However, depending on the substrate their hydrolyzing activity of long polypeptide substrates was significantly different. Additional separation of the three 20S proteasome subpopulations due to their different surface charges allowed further resolution of each subpopulation to at least five 20S proteasome subtypes. The subunit composition of these subtypes varied with regard to the content of exchangeable subunits. The pattern of proteolytic activities measured with short fluorogenic peptides differed between the various subtypes as well as the ability to hydrolyze polypeptide substrate. Above all, each subtype displayed a specific pattern regarding the peptide-splice-activity. Furthermore, the present work showed age-dependent alterations in the subtype patterns, which were analyzed in livers of 2, 8 and 23 month old rats. While the total amount of proteasome declines with age, in all subtypes from aged animals standard subunits were widely replaced by immunosubunits. This resulted in a relative increase of immunosubunit-containing proteasomes, paralleled by age-dependent changes regarding the hydrolyzing activity of long polypeptide substrates. Such modifications could have implications on protein homeostasis as well as on MHC class I antigen presentation as part of the immunosenescence process.

Le protéasome est responsable de la dégradation régulée d'une majeure partie des protéines intracellulaires. Cette machinerie multimoléculaire est composée d'un cœur catalytique, le protéasome 20S, qui peut être activé par plusieurs types de protéines régulatrices, en particulier la particule régulatrice 19S ou PA700, les complexes heptamériques formés par les membres de la famille 11S (ou PA28) et PA200. Au cours de ce travail, nous nous sommes focalisés sur PA28gamma, un régulateur nucléaire du protéasome, qui active la dégradation de plusieurs substrats par le protéasome 20S de façon indépendante de l'ubiquitine et de l'ATP. Malgré de multiples études montrant l'implication de PA28gamma dans de nombreux processus cellulaires essentiels tels que le cycle cellulaire, la prolifération, l'apoptose, l'architecture nucléaire, la dynamique de la chromatine, les infections virales et la réponse au stress, ses fonctions exactes ne sont pas encore comprises. De plus, les mécanismes impliqués dans la régulation de l'activité de PA28gamma et de son association avec le protéasome 20S restent mystérieux. Une analyse SILAC des partenaires d'interaction de PA28gamma endogène a révélé l'existence d'un nouveau facteur, non caractérisé, que nous avons appelé PIP30 (PA28gamma Interacting Protein 30 kDa). Le gène PIP30 contient un domaine très conservé chez les Eucaryotes. Nous avons produit et purifié la protéine PIP30 recombinante et montré qu'elle est faiblement structurée, malgré le fait qu'elle puisse se dimériser. Nous avons confirmé, aussi bien in vitro qu'in cellulo, que PIP30 interagit directement et spécifiquement avec PA28gamma. En analysant la co-immunoprécipitation de PA28gamma avec différents mutants tronqués de GFP-PIP30, nous avons pu identifier la séquence de PIP30 responsable de l'interaction avec PA28gamma dans sa partie C-terminale. Nous essayons maintenant d'identifier la séquence de PA28gamma impliquée dans la liaison de PIP30 et de cristalliser le complexe PA28gamma/PIP30. L'élaboration d'un anticorps anti-PIP30 « maison » nous a permis de montrer que PIP30 est une protéine nucléaire stable. Son niveau d'expression diminue en réponse à la déplétion de PA28gamma, ce qui suggère que PIP30 est stabilisée par son interaction avec PA28gamma in cellulo. Nous avons démontré in vitro que PIP30 inhibe partiellement l'activation médiée par PA28gamma des activités de type chymotrypsine et caspase, mais pas trypsine, du protéasome. Cependant, nous avons montré, par une approche ELISA, que PIP30 n'affecte pas la liaison de PA28gamma au protéasome 20S. Par ailleurs, nous avons testé l'effet de PIP30 sur la dégradation de p21 par le complexe PA28gamma/protéasome 20S et observé que PIP30 augmente la vitesse de dégradation de p21 dans ce test. Nos tentatives pour élucider la fonction exacte de PIP30 in cellulo n'ont jusqu'ici pas abouti à une conclusion convaincante. L'ensemble de ces résultats suggère que PIP30 pourrait être impliqué dans le recrutement sélectif des substrats de PA28gamma et/ou dans la modulation de l'activation du protéasome par PA28gamma. / The proteasome is responsible for the regulated degradation of most intracellular proteins. This multi-subunit machinery is composed of a common catalytic core, the 20S proteasome, which can be activated by various types of regulators, notably the 19S regulatory particle or PA700, the heptameric complexes formed by the members of the 11S (or PA28) family and PA200. This work has been focused on PA28gamma, a nuclear regulator of the proteasome, which has been shown to activate degradation of several proteasomal substrates in an ATP- and ubiquitin- independent manner. Despite many evidences revealing the involvement of PA28gamma in many essential cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, proliferation, apoptosis, nuclear architecture, chromatin dynamics, viral infection and stress response, its exact function(s) remain to be understood. In addition, how PA28gamma activity and association to the 20S proteasome are regulated is completely unclear. A SILAC-based analysis of endogenous PA28gamma interaction partners revealed the existence of a novel, completely uncharacterized protein, which we called PIP30 (PA28gamma Interacting Protein 30 kDa). Evolutionary analysis indicates that PIP30 gene contains a domain highly conserved in Eukaryotes, without any alternative splicing or gene duplication evidences. We produced and purified the recombinant PIP30 protein and showed that it is poorly structured, although it is able to make dimers. We confirmed both in vitro and in cellulo that PIP30 directly and specifically interacts with PA28gamma. By analyzing the co-immunoprecipitation of PA28gamma with various GFP-PIP30 truncation mutants, we identified the sequence of PIP30 responsible for PA28gamma binding in its C-terminal part. Ongoing analyses now focus on the identification of PIP30 binding motif on PA28gamma sequence and the crystallization of the PA28gamma-PIP30 complex. Using homemade anti-PIP30 antibodies, we showed that PIP30 is a stable nuclear protein. Its expression level is decreased in response to PA28gamma depletion, suggesting that it is stabilized by its interaction with PA28gamma in cellulo. We demonstrated in vitro that PIP30 partially inhibits PA28gamma-mediated activation of the chymotrypsin- and caspase-, but not the trypsin-like, activities of the proteasome. However, we showed by an ELISA-based approach that PIP30 does not affect PA28gamma binding to 20S. Considering the limitations of probing proteasome activity with small fluorogenic substrates, we tested the effect of PIP30 on the PA28gamma-dependent proteasomal degradation of in vitro translated p21, a known protein substrate of PA28gamma. We unexpectedly found that PIP30 enhanced the rate of p21 degradation. Our attempts to elucidate the exact functions of PIP30 in cellulo were unsuccessful so far. Altogether, our results suggest that PIP30 could be involved in the selective recruitment of PA28gamma protein substrates and/or modulate PA28gamma-mediated proteasome activation.

In this study, we have characterized some biochemical and electrophoretic features of recombinant 20S Proteasome from a thermoacidophilic archaeon Thermoplasma volcanium. As revealed by SDS-PAGE the 20S Proteasome was composed of two subunits, &amp / #945 / - and &amp / #946 / - subunits with estimated molecular masses of 24 kDa and 23 kDa, respectively. The highest chymotryptic activity was observed over an alkaline pH range (pH 8.0 &ndash / pH 9.0) and the optimum temperature for the activity was determined as 85oC. The heat stability of proteasome was quite high after treatment at 98oC for 30 minutes, 64 % of the activity has still been retained. The highest activity associated with the Thermoplasma volcanium proteasome was found to be peptidylglutamyl peptidase activity. Within the scope of this project, also, we have cloned a 26S Proteasome related Regulatory Subunit gene of Thermoplasma volcanium. For cloning we have followed a PCR based approach. Amplification of 26S Proteasome Regulatory Subunit gene from chromosomal DNA of Tp. volcanium yielded a product of 1419 bp containing an open reading frame of 1128 bp comprising the structural gene. The PCR amplicon was cloned using pDrive vector in E.coli TG-1 cells. Out of ten putative recombinants, three plasmids, E.coli pD1-6, E.coli pD2-3, E.coli pD3-1, were proved to be true recombinants and selected for further characterization by restriction mapping and expression studies. ATPase activities of cell free extracts from both recombinant and non-recombinant E.coli strains were measured and found that ATPase activities in cell free extracts of recombinant strains were 10 times higher than non-recombinants. This result indicates sucessful expression of the cloned regulatory subunit gene with ATPase activity in E.coli.