In silico APC/C substrate discovery reveals cell cycle-dependent degradation of UHRF1 and other chromatin regulators

PLoS Biol. 2020 Dec 11;18(12):e3000975. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000975. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Abstract

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and critical regulator of cell cycle progression. Despite its vital role, it has remained challenging to globally map APC/C substrates. By combining orthogonal features of known substrates, we predicted APC/C substrates in silico. This analysis identified many known substrates and suggested numerous candidates. Unexpectedly, chromatin regulatory proteins are enriched among putative substrates, and we show experimentally that several chromatin proteins bind APC/C, oscillate during the cell cycle, and are degraded following APC/C activation, consistent with being direct APC/C substrates. Additional analysis revealed detailed mechanisms of ubiquitylation for UHRF1, a key chromatin regulator involved in histone ubiquitylation and DNA methylation maintenance. Disrupting UHRF1 degradation at mitotic exit accelerates G1-phase cell cycle progression and perturbs global DNA methylation patterning in the genome. We conclude that APC/C coordinates crosstalk between cell cycle and chromatin regulatory proteins. This has potential consequences in normal cell physiology, where the chromatin environment changes depending on proliferative state, as well as in disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome / metabolism*
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome / physiology
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Computer Simulation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / physiology
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • Transcription Factors
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • UHRF1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases