Reactive-site-centric chemoproteomics identifies a distinct class of deubiquitinase enzymes

Nat Commun. 2018 Mar 21;9(1):1162. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03511-6.

Abstract

Activity-based probes (ABPs) are widely used to monitor the activity of enzyme families in biological systems. Inferring enzyme activity from probe reactivity requires that the probe reacts with the enzyme at its active site; however, probe-labeling sites are rarely verified. Here we present an enhanced chemoproteomic approach to evaluate the activity and probe reactivity of deubiquitinase enzymes, using bioorthogonally tagged ABPs and a sequential on-bead digestion protocol to enhance the identification of probe-labeling sites. We confirm probe labeling of deubiquitinase catalytic Cys residues and reveal unexpected labeling of deubiquitinases on non-catalytic Cys residues and of non-deubiquitinase proteins. In doing so, we identify ZUFSP (ZUP1) as a previously unannotated deubiquitinase with high selectivity toward cleaving K63-linked chains. ZUFSP interacts with and modulates ubiquitination of the replication protein A (RPA) complex. Our reactive-site-centric chemoproteomics method is broadly applicable for identifying the reaction sites of covalent molecules, which may expand our understanding of enzymatic mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Biocatalysis
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / chemistry*
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / classification
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / genetics
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysine / chemistry
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Molecular Probes
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Replication Protein A / genetics
  • Replication Protein A / metabolism*
  • Staining and Labeling / methods*
  • Sumoylation
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Molecular Probes
  • RPA1 protein, human
  • Replication Protein A
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • ZUP1 protein, human
  • Lysine
  • Cysteine