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Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism and Section of Comparative Medicine, Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;
State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China;
To whom correspondence should be addressed: Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208016, New Haven, CT 06520, Tel.:1-203-737-1446, Fax:1-203-785-7499,
Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism and Section of Comparative Medicine, Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
* This work was supported by NIH R01 DK089098, American Diabetes Association, and Ellison Medical Foundation to X.Y.; a Brown-Coxe Postdoctoral Fellowship to H.B.R.; and NSFC 81120108005/81225003 to Y.N.
The post-translational modification of intracellular proteins by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) regulates essential cellular processes such as signal transduction, transcription, translation, and protein degradation. Misfolded, damaged, and unwanted proteins are tagged with a chain of ubiquitin moieties for degradation by the proteasome, which is critical for cellular homeostasis. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the interplay between O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination in the control of protein degradation. Understanding the mechanisms of action of O-GlcNAcylation in the ubiquitin-proteosome system shall facilitate the development of therapeutics for human diseases such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases.
THE UBIQUITIN-PROTEASOME SYSTEM
Ubiquitination is a post-translational process by which ubiquitin is covalently attached to the lysine residues of target proteins. Ubiquitin is an 8.5-kDa protein that exists in all eukaryotic cells (
). It is encoded in mammals by four genes. The UBB and UBC genes encode polyubiquitin precursors, whereas UBA52 and RPS27A genes encode fusion proteins composed of a ubiquitin and the ribosomal proteins L40 and S27a, respectively (
). The ubiquitination process consists a cascade of reactions: (i) activation of ubiquitin by the ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), (ii) transfer of ubiquitin from E1 to a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2), and (iii) recognizing target proteins and mediating transfer of ubiquitin from E2 to the target by a ubiquitin ligase (E3) (
Polyubiquitination (at least four subunits) through lysine 48 (K48) of ubiquitin normally marks target proteins for proteasomal degradation. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)
is the key machinery by which cells dispose of misfolded and damaged proteins in order to maintain cellular homeostasis. In addition, monoubiquitination through K48 or polyubiquitination through other lysine residues of ubiquitin regulates distinct cellular processes, including subcellular localization, endocytosis, and enzymatic activity (
Crosstalk between different types of post-translational modifications (PTMs) encodes a wealth of biological information. It is known that ubiquitination and other forms of PTMs are mutually regulated. A large body of evidence shows that phosphorylation and ubiquitination are connected either positively or negatively (
O-GlcNAc Modification and Its Interplay with Other PTMs
Thousands of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins are modified by a single O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) moiety at serine (S) or threonine (T) residues, termed O-GlcNAcylation (
). O-GlcNAcylation is catalyzed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), whereas the reverse reaction is mediated by O-GlcNAcase (OGA, NCOAT, or MGEA5). UDP-GlcNAc, the donor substrate for O-GlcNAcylation, is derived from extracellular glucose through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. Because UDP-GlcNAc and protein O-GlcNAc levels in the cell fluctuate with the availability of glucose, free fatty acids, uridine, and the amino acid glutamine, O-GlcNAc is proposed as a nutrient sensor and metabolic regulator (
). This dynamic and reversible modification is emerging as a key regulator of diverse cellular processes, such as signal transduction, transcription, translation, and cytoskeletal functions (
). Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has been implicated in a spectrum of human diseases, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer disease.
Since its discovery in 1984, O-GlcNAcylation has been extensively studied in relationship with phosphorylation (
). Interplay between O-GlcNAcylation and other PTMs is emerging as an important area of investigation. It has been shown that OGT overexpression alters the acetylation and methylation of histones and the activity of an arginine methyltransferase, CARM1 (
). Allison et al. show that O-GlcNAcylation of RelA at T305 is required in order for p300-mediated acetylation at K310 to fully activate NF-κB transcription (
). Recent studies reveal that the ten-eleven translocation proteins TET2 and TET3 form a complex with OGT that sustains H3K4 methylation through O-GlcNAcylating host cell factor C1 (HCF-1), a component of the H3K4 methyltransferase SET1/COMPASS complex (
). Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that O-GlcNAcylation regulates mono- and polyubiquitination, protein stability, and proteasome function, which is the focus of this review.
O-GlcNAcylation Regulates Protein Ubiquitination via Phosphorylation
Because O-GlcNAcylation can affect phosphorylation (
), it is conceivable that O-GlcNAcylation controls protein ubiquitination and stability through interplay with phosphorylation (Table I, Fig. 1A), as exemplified below.
Table IList of proteins for which stability is regulated by O-GlcNAc signaling
Alternative O-glycosylation/O-phosphorylation of serine-16 in murine estrogen receptor beta: post-translational regulation of turnover and transactivation activity.
O-glycosylation regulates ubiquitination and degradation of the anti-inflammatory protein A20 to accelerate atherosclerosis in diabetic ApoE-null mice.
A glycosylation site, 60SGTS63, of p67 is required for its ability to regulate the phosphorylation and activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha.
The expression of the tumor suppressor p53 is tightly controlled by proteasomal degradation so as to maintain low levels under normal conditions and rapidly accumulate upon DNA damage (
). Cho and colleagues demonstrate that the treatment of MCF-7 cells with an OGA inhibitor increases the level of O-GlcNAcylated p53 and decreases cell viability (
). Δ-lactoferrin expression is down-regulated in cancer cells, whereas its high-level expression is correlated with a good prognosis in human breast cancer (
). O-GlcNAcylation stabilizes Δ-lactoferrin and retains a basal level of transcriptional activity. Upon activation, Δ-lactoferrin is phosphorylated at S10, which promotes transcription and subsequent degradation through K379 polyubiquitination (
). These studies point to the idea that protein functions can be precisely controlled by dynamic and coordinated changes in O-GlcNAcylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination.
Snail1
The zinc-finger protein Snail1 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor progression by repressing the transcription of E-cadherin, a major component of cell adhesion junctions (
). It has been shown that phosphorylation of Snail1 by casein kinase 1 and glycogen synthase kinase-3β promotes the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Snail1 (
). Park et al. show that O-GlcNAcylation of Snail1 at S112 decreases glycogen synthase kinase-3β-mediated phosphorylation and increases the stability of the protein (
). Consistently, the pharmacological inhibition of OGA by PUGNAc increases the half-life of Snail1 by inhibiting ubiquitination. In response to hyperglycemia, O-GlcNAc modification of Snail1 down-regulates E-cadherin transcription and therefore promotes cell migration and invasive programs (
The nuclear receptor estrogen receptor β (ERβ) mediates many aspects of estrogen action, including reproduction, inflammation, behavior, and energy metabolism (
). Cheng and Hart demonstrate that ERβ is reciprocally modified by O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation at S16. The S16A mutant devoid of both modifications reduces ERβ turnover, whereas the S16E mutant mimicking constitutive phosphorylation has an increased turnover rate (
Alternative O-glycosylation/O-phosphorylation of serine-16 in murine estrogen receptor beta: post-translational regulation of turnover and transactivation activity.
). A simple interpretation of these results is that O-GlcNAcylation protects the S16 site from phosphorylation and Pro-Glu-Ser-Thr region–mediated proteasomal degradation. However, whether this process involves the ubiquitination of ERβ remains unclear.
Casein Kinase 2-α
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that has been implicated in cell proliferation, DNA repair, circadian rhythm, and other cellular processes (
). Tarrant et al. demonstrate that phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of CK2α at T344 increases protein stability by promoting the interaction with Pin1 (
cAMP-response element-binding-protein-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) is a transcriptional coactivator for cAMP-response element-binding protein and an important regulator of gluconeogenesis in the liver (
). Under fasting conditions, glucagon induces dephosphorylation of CRTC2 at S171, resulting in CRTC2 translocation into the nucleus to activate the transcription of gluconeogenic genes (
). During feeding, insulin activates the Ser/Thr kinase SIK2 to phosphorylate CRTC2 at S171. Subsequently, phosphorylated CRTC2 translocates to the cytoplasm and undergoes ubiquitination-dependent degradation (
). Dentin et al. reveal that O-GlcNAcylation of CRTC2 at S70 and S171 competes with phosphorylation to suppress cytoplasmic sequestration, thereby contributing to hyperglycemia-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis (
). Whether O-GlcNAcylation has a direct effect on CRTC2 ubiquitination and stability warrants further investigation.
O-GlcNAcylation Stabilizes Proteins by Recruiting Deubiquitinase
Using a proteomic approach, Ruan et al. recently identified a large number of putative OGT-binding proteins. Many proteins in the ubiquitination pathway, including ubiquitin precursors, E3 ubiquitin ligases, and deubiquitinases (DUBs), are enriched (Table II). Although the functions of these interactions have not been determined, these findings raise the possibility that O-GlcNAc signaling directly modulates the ubiquitin system (
Genome-wide and functional annotation of human E3 ubiquitin ligases identifies MULAN, a mitochondrial E3 that regulates the organelle's dynamics and signaling.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-α (PGC-1α) is a key transcriptional cofactor that promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and hepatic gluconeogenesis. It integrates multiple metabolic signals and is extensively regulated by PTMs, including phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, and O-GlcNAcylation (
). As a scaffold protein, HCF-1 recruits OGT to O-GlcNAcylate PGC-1α at S333. BAP1 is a DUB known to interact with HCF-1 through an HCF-1 binding motif (
). Ruan et al. further show that O-GlcNAcylation of PGC-1α facilitates the recruitment of BAP1 that deubiquitinates and stabilizes PGC-1α. This is the first demonstration that O-GlcNAcylation regulates protein ubiquitination and stability through a DUB. Diabetic animals have increased levels of HCF-1 and BAP1 in the liver, which is associated with increased PGC-1α levels and gluconeogenesis. Knockdown of OGT and HCF-1 improves glucose metabolism in diabetic db/db mice (
). This study elucidates the role of the antagonism between O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination as a regulatory mechanism governing metabolic homeostasis.
BMAL1/CLOCK
The circadian clock functions to align physiological and behavioral processes with daily environmental cycles (
). The molecular clock involves a transcriptional feedback loop in which BMAL1 and CLOCK activate the Period (Per1, -2, and -3) and Cryptochrome (Cry1 and -2) genes. PERs and CRYs accumulate rhythmically and form an inhibitory complex against BMAL1/CLOCK to repress their own transcription (
). Li et al. further demonstrate that the OGT–BAP1 complex O-GlcNAcylates and deubiquitinates BMAL1 and CLOCK to control the amplitude of circadian oscillation in response to nutrient availability. Disruption of O-GlcNAc signaling in mouse liver perturbs the diurnal rhythm of glucose metabolism (
Taken together, the studies by Ruan et al. and Li et al. define the OGT–HCF-1–BAP1 complex as a key modulator of ubiquitination, suggesting a novel mechanism by which O-GlcNAcylation controls protein stability (
Fig. 1Modes of interaction between O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination.A, O-GlcNAcylation of the substrate antagonizes phosphorylation at the same or adjacent site to control ubiquitination. B, O-GlcNAcylation provides a docking site for DUBs that deubiquitinate the substrate. C, O-GlcNAcylation of H2B recruits an E3 complex to monoubiquitinate H2B. D, targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome system. OGT physically interacts with ubiquitin precursors, E3s, and DUBs. O-GlcNAcylation has been found on E1s, E3s, DUBs, and 19S and 20S proteasomes.
O-GlcNAcylation Regulates Protein Ubiquitination via Unknown Mechanisms
Carbohydrate-response Element-binding Protein
Carbohydrate-response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism in a glucose-dependent manner (
). Under low glucose conditions, phosphorylated, inactive ChREBP primarily resides in the cytoplasm. High glucose levels trigger ChREBP dephosphorylation at S196 by PP2A and translocation into the nucleus, followed by dephosphorylation at T666 to induce the transcriptional activity of ChREBP. However, dephosphorylation at these sites is not sufficient for the constitutive activation of ChREBP, suggesting additional layers of regulation (
). Keratin pair 8/18 is widely studied in terms of the regulation of protein interaction, ubiquitination, and filament organization by phosphorylation (
). O-GlcNAcylation increases keratin 8/18 solubility, ubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation. O-GlcNAc-deficient keratin 18 is more stable and causes changes in the filament architecture. There does not seem to be a reciprocal relationship between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of keratin 8/18 in vivo. The mechanism by which O-GlcNAcylation increases ubiquitination is still a mystery (
The zinc-finger protein A20 is a negative regulator of NF-κB signaling that has been shown to suppress apoptosis and inflammation. Shrikhande et al. reported that hyperglycemia promotes the O-GlcNAcylation, ubiquitination, and degradation of A20, which accelerate atherosclerosis in diabetic mice (
O-glycosylation regulates ubiquitination and degradation of the anti-inflammatory protein A20 to accelerate atherosclerosis in diabetic ApoE-null mice.
). Interestingly, A20 has both ubiquitin ligase and deubiquitinase activities, suggesting that regulation of the A20 protein level by O-GlcNAcylation is a control point for the ubiquitination of A20 target proteins.
As listed in Table I, the hexosamine/O-GlcNAc pathway can modulate the stability of many other proteins either positively or negatively. For example, O-GlcNAc signaling increases the stability of β-catenin (
A glycosylation site, 60SGTS63, of p67 is required for its ability to regulate the phosphorylation and activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha.
). Histones are well-known targets of monoubiquitination. H2B monoubiquitination at K120 has been shown to regulate transcription initiation and elongation (
Modification of histones by sugar beta-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) occurs on multiple residues, including histone H3 serine 10, and is cell cycle-regulated.
). Therefore, it is appealing to determine the interactions between O-GlcNAcylation and other histone markers. Fujiki et al. have demonstrated that O-GlcNAcylation of H2B at S112, which is sensitive to glucose availability, promotes K120 monoubiquitination by anchoring the BRE1A/1B complex, an E3 ligase (Fig. 1C) (
). Genome-wide analysis reveals that H2B S112 O-GlcNAcylation is associated with transcribed gene loci, many of which overlap with K120 monoubiquitination (
). It will be interesting to determine whether O-GlcNAcylation regulates the monoubiquitination of non-histone proteins.
O-GlcNAcylation Regulates the Ubiquitination Process
The preceding sections outline individual proteins that are covalently modified and regulated by O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination. There is also evidence that O-GlcNAcylation modulates global ubiquitination (
). Thermal stress induces a rapid increase in both O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination. Increasing O-GlcNAc levels via glucosamine or PUGNAc promotes ubiquitination, whereas decreasing O-GlcNAc levels via forskolin, glucose deprivation, or OGT knockdown reduces ubiquitination (
). However, increasing ubiquitination levels via the proteasome inhibitor has no obvious effect on global O-GlcNAcylation. These results suggest that O-GlcNAcylation affects ubiquitination, but not vice versa. The authors also found that the E1 enzyme Uba1 is O-GlcNAcylated, suggesting the possible regulation of protein ubiquitination by E1 O-GlcNAcylation (
A large number of O-GlcNAcylated proteins/peptides and O-GlcNAcylation sites have been discovered using proteomic approaches. We searched published O-GlcNAcylated protein datasets for those involved in the ubiquitination process including ubiquitin precursors, E1s, E2s, E3s, and DUBs, and we found that many of theses proteins are modified by O-GlcNAc (Table III). Although the functions of O-GlcNAcylation of these proteins have not been fully characterized, it is conceivable that O-GlcNAcylation regulates protein ubiquitination through multiple nodes of the UPS (Fig. 1D).
Table IIIO-GlcNAcylated proteins involved in ubiquitination
Genome-wide and functional annotation of human E3 ubiquitin ligases identifies MULAN, a mitochondrial E3 that regulates the organelle's dynamics and signaling.
The 26S proteasome is responsible for the destruction of polyubiquitinated proteins. In addition to its roles in regulating protein ubiquitination, O-GlcNAc has long been proposed to directly modulate proteasome activity. Both the 20S catalytic particle and the 19S regulatory particle of the proteasome are known to be O-GlcNAcylated (
). Zhang et al. demonstrated that O-GlcNAcylation of Rpt2 ATPase in the 19S proteasome inhibits proteasome function, which may serve as a mechanism controlling cellular levels of amino acids in response to metabolic changes such as starvation and nutrient overload (
) (Fig. 1D). It should be noted that many of the studies listed in Table I were performed using indiscriminate approaches (i.e. OGT overexpression or OGA inhibition) that affect global O-GlcNAc levels. Thus, the stabilization of certain proteins by O-GlcNAc signaling could be, at least in part, attributed to proteasomal inhibition (Table I).
The short form of O-GlcNAcase (OGA-S), which lacks the histone acetyltransferase domain, accumulates on the surface of lipid droplets (
). Selective knockdown of OGA-S results in global proteasome inhibition and increased levels of perilipin-2 and -3. These findings suggest that proteasomal modulation links O-GlcNAc signaling to lipid droplet maturation (
O-GlcNAcylation and Ubiquitination in Physiology and Pathogenesis
During starvation, increased proteasomal degradation in the muscle supplies amino acids to the liver for de novo glucose synthesis (gluconeogenesis). In the starved muscle, reduced O-GlcNAc signaling promotes the ability of the proteasome to degrade polyubiquitinated proteins (
). Glucotoxicity, which is caused by diabetic hyperglycemia, leads to hepatic steatosis, β cell failure, cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis. As shown in Table I, O-GlcNAcylation regulates the ubiquitination and/or stability of ChREBP, SirT1, Nkx2.5, and A20. Therefore, glucotoxcity may contribute to metabolic syndrome through aberrant O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination of those proteins in various tissues.
Many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the formation of ubiquitin-conjugated protein aggregates in pathological inclusion bodies. For example, hyperphosphorylated Tau is the main component of neurofibrillary tangles, and amyloid-β is the major component of senile plaques in Alzheimer disease. α-synuclein aggregates form Lewy bodies in Parkinson disease, mutant Huntington proteins form inclusion bodies in Huntington disease, and skein-like inclusions exist in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (
). The common cellular mechanism for these pathological conditions is the defective UPS. O-GlcNAc is also involved in many neurodegenerative diseases (
). O-GlcNAc signaling modulates phosphorylation of Tau and the processing of the amyloid-β precursor protein, and treatment of the OGA inhibitor hinders the progression of Alzheimer disease (
). Further studies should define the casual role of O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination in neurodegeneration, ideally using murine models and human patient samples.
The defective UPS causes the accumulation of misfolded or mutated proteins, which in turn contribute to tumor formation and progression (
). Notably, the oncogene Cbl and the tumor suppressor BAP1 are O-GlcNAcylated (Table III). O-GlcNAc has also been implicated in cancer biology by targeting transcription factors such as p53, c-Myc, Sp1, and NF-κB (
). Many proteins involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion, such as p53, Δ-lactoferrin, Snail1, β-catenin, FoxM1, and Sp1, are regulated by O-GlcNAcylation and ubiquitination (Table I). A better understanding of the regulation of the UPS by O-GlcNAcylation will provide crucial insight into cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Acknowledgments
We thank all members of the Yang laboratory for stimulating discussions.
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Isolation of a polypeptide that has lymphocyte-differentiating properties and is probably represented universally in living cells.
Alternative O-glycosylation/O-phosphorylation of serine-16 in murine estrogen receptor beta: post-translational regulation of turnover and transactivation activity.
O-glycosylation regulates ubiquitination and degradation of the anti-inflammatory protein A20 to accelerate atherosclerosis in diabetic ApoE-null mice.
A glycosylation site, 60SGTS63, of p67 is required for its ability to regulate the phosphorylation and activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha.
Modification of histones by sugar beta-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) occurs on multiple residues, including histone H3 serine 10, and is cell cycle-regulated.
Genome-wide and functional annotation of human E3 ubiquitin ligases identifies MULAN, a mitochondrial E3 that regulates the organelle's dynamics and signaling.
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