The Eukaryotic Linear Motif resource for
Functional Sites in Proteins
Accession:
Functional site class:
DCNL binding motif
Functional site description:
Defective in cullin neddylation protein 1-like protein (DCNL), is a scaffold-like E3, which regulates cullin neddylation. Cullins are part of multi-subunit cullin-based E3s (CRLs), playing an important role in substrate ubiquitination and consequently regulated protein degradation. CRLs are activated by covalent attachment of NEDD8 to a conserved C-terminal lysine. DCNLs bind an E2~NEDD8 intermediate via their PONY domain and mediate the recruitment of a E3 cullin subunit through binding to its WHB subdomain. In human cells, two different NEDD8 E2s are expressed, UBE2M and UBE2F, which show differential affinities towards the five DCNLs1-5. CRLs comprise 2 different types of RING domain proteins, RBX1 and RBX2. RBX1 can interact with CUL1-4, whereas RBX2 exclusively interacts with CUL5. Also, UBE2F solely interacts with RBX2, causing UBE2F specificity for CUL5. Because of its role in the regulation of protein ubiquitination the Neddylation cascade is an important potential drug target.
ELM Description:
Motif found in the N-terminal regions of NEDD8 E2s UBE2M and UBE2F, which mediates binding to DCNLs PONY domain. The structure of DCNLs consists of an N-terminal ubiquitin associated domain (UBA domain) and a C-terminal potentiating neddylation domain (PONY domain), connected over a disordered linker. All essential functions of DCNLs for neddylation reside within the PONY domain. DCNLs bind an E2~NEDD8 intermediate via their PONY domain and mediate the recruitment of an E3 cullin subunit through binding to its WHB subdomain. The PONY domain contains the binding site for the UBE2M and UBE2F N-terminal motifs, based on a conserved ^M[IL].L core sequence. These peptides bind into a deep conserved hydrophobic pocket of DCNLs PONY. The binding motifs are overlapping, with the motifs responsible for NEDD8 E2~E1 interactions (LIG_UBA3_1), in fact in the case of UBE2F the motif residues are identical. For the DNTL interaction, a N-terminal acetylation of the binding motif is required in the case of both E2s. The acetyl group neutralises a positive charge at the E2 N-terminus to ensure its penetration into the hydrophobic pocket within the PONY domain and additionally makes a positive interaction in the pocket. The methionine side chain of the E2 extends into a hydrophobic channel formed by DCNL side chains. In vitro studies show that all of the DCNLs are able to interact with both NEDD8 E2s, however with varying affinities. The highest affinities were observed for UBE2F~DCNL3, UBE2M~DCNL1 and UBE2M~DCNL2. The UBE2M structures show a hydrogen bond formed between the acetyl-oxygen of acetyl-methionine and the tyrosine hydroxyl group of DCNL1 (or DCNL2 respectively), which is not present in the UBE2F structure.
Pattern: ^M[MIL].[MIL]
Pattern Probability: 4.869e-07
Present in taxon: Eukaryota
Interaction Domain:
Cullin_binding (PF03556) Cullin binding (Stochiometry: 1 : 1)
o See 2 Instances for LIG_DCNL_PONY_1
o Abstract
Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification, which leads to the degradation of a substrate protein at the 26S proteasome. The conjugation of a Ubiquitin to its substrate involves a three-step multi-enzymatic process using an E1-(activating), E2-(conjugating) and E3-(ligase) enzyme (Brown,2015). One of the two main classes of E3 ubiquitin ligases contain a RING domain (either RBX1 or RBX2) which associates with a cullin subunit which is why they are termed cullin/RING ligases (CRLs) (Petroski,2005).
CRLs are activated by covalent attachment of ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 to a conserved C-terminal lysine. This process is called neddylation and prevents the association of a CRL with its inhibitor CAND1 (cullin-associated NEDD8-dissociated 1).
Analogous to ubiquitination, neddylation also involves a three-step enzymatic process. The NEDD8 E1 is a heterodimer composed of NAE1 and UBA3. NAE1-UBA3 interacts with two known NEDD E2s, UBE2M and UBE2F. NEDD8 E3 ligases are represented by the RING domains of CRLs. Cullins bind substrate recognition subunits, the RING domains acts as ligases by binding the E2~NEDD8 intermediate to catalyse NEDD8 transfer. UBE2M preferentially interacts with the E3 RBX1 and UBE2F with RBX2 (Brown,2015). RBX1 can interact with CUL1-4, whereas RBX2 exclusively interacts with CUL5, leading to UBE2F specificity for CUL5 (Monda,2013).
Defective in cullin neddylation protein 1-like proteins 1-5 (DCNL1-5), are scaffold-like co-E3s, which regulate cullin neddylation by acting as cofactors for RBX1 and RBX2. The structure of DCNLs consists of an N-terminal ubiquitin associated domain (UBA domain) and a C-terminal potentiating neddylation domain (PONY domain), connected over a disordered linker.
All essential functions of DCNLs for neddylation reside within the PONY domain. DCNLs bind an E2~NEDD8 intermediate via their PONY domain and mediate the recruitment of a E3 cullin subunit through binding to its WHB subdomain (Kurz,2008). The PONY domain contains the binding site for the UBE2M and UBE2F N-terminal motifs, based on a conserved ^M[IL].L core sequences. These peptides bind into a deep conserved hydrophobic pocket of DCNLs PONY domain (Monda,2013, 4P5O, 3TDU, 4GAO, 4GBA). The binding motifs are overlapping, with the motifs responsible for NEDD8 E2~E1 interactions (LIG_UBA3_1), in fact in the case of UBE2F the motif residues are identical. Consequently these motifs are part of a switching mechanism. For the DNTL interaction, a N-terminal acetylation of the binding motif is required in the case of both E2s. The acetyl group neutralises a positive charge at the E2 N-terminus to ensure its penetration into the hydrophobic pocket within the PONY domain and additionally makes a positive interaction in the pocket. The methionine side chain of the E2 extends into a hydrophobic channel formed by DCNL side chains. In vitro studies show that all of the DCNLs are able to interact with both NEDD8 E2s, however with varying affinities. The highest affinities were observed for UBE2F~DCNL3, UBE2M~DCNL1 and UBE2M~DCNL2. DCNL1 amplification and overexpression in squamous cell carcinoma is associated with unfavourable outcome (Monda,2013). This raises the possibility, that the N-acetyl-methionine binding site may be an important drug target and shows the importance of understanding the binding mechanism for the design of small molecules to target the binding site. Due to differences in the N-acetyl-Met binding pockets between the UBE2F~DCNL3, UBE2M~DCNL1 and UBE2M~DCNL2 structures, and the differential preferences of peptides derived from UBE2M or UBE2F in inhibiting DCNL1-DCNL3-activated NEDD8 ligation, the potential of selective manipulation of N-acetyl-Met-dependent protein-protein interactions was shown (Monda,2013).
o 5 selected references:

o 5 GO-Terms:

o 2 Instances for LIG_DCNL_PONY_1
(click table headers for sorting; Notes column: =Number of Switches, =Number of Interactions)
Acc., Gene-, NameStartEndSubsequenceLogic#Ev.OrganismNotes
P61081 UBE2M
UBC12_HUMAN
1 4 MIKLFSLKQQKKEEESAGGT TP 8 Homo sapiens (Human)
2 
Q969M7 UBE2F
UBE2F_HUMAN
1 4 MLTLASKLKRDDGLKGSRTA TP 4 Homo sapiens (Human)
1 
Please cite: The Eukaryotic Linear Motif resource: 2022 release. (PMID:34718738)

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