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Structure of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex required for HPV-mediated degradation of p53.

ABSTRACT: The p53 pro-apoptotic tumour suppressor is mutated or functionally altered in most cancers. In epithelial tumours induced by 'high-risk' mucosal human papilloma viruses, including human cervical carcinoma and a growing number of head-and-neck cancers, p53 is degraded by the viral oncoprotein E6 (ref. 2). In this process, E6 binds to a short leucine (L)-rich LxxLL consensus sequence within the cellular ubiquitin ligase E6AP. Subsequently, the E6/E6AP heterodimer recruits and degrades p53 (ref. 4). Neither E6 nor E6AP are separately able to recruit p53 (refs 3, 5), and the precise mode of assembly of E6, E6AP and p53 is unknown. Here we solve the crystal structure of a ternary complex comprising full-length human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV-16) E6, the LxxLL motif of E6AP and the core domain of p53. The LxxLL motif of E6AP renders the conformation of E6 competent for interaction with p53 by structuring a p53-binding cleft on E6. Mutagenesis of critical positions at the E6-p53 interface disrupts p53 degradation. The E6-binding site of p53 is distal from previously described DNA- and protein-binding surfaces of the core domain. This suggests that, in principle, E6 may avoid competition with cellular factors by targeting both free and bound p53 molecules. The E6/E6AP/p53 complex represents a prototype of viral hijacking of both the ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway and the p53 tumour suppressor pathway. The present structure provides a framework for the design of inhibitory therapeutic strategies against oncogenesis mediated by human papilloma virus.

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Zapien D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4853763 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Structure of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex required for HPV-mediated degradation of p53.

Martinez-Zapien Denise D Ruiz Francesc Xavier FX Poirson Juline J Mitschler André A Ramirez Juan J Forster Anne A Cousido-Siah Alexandra A Masson Murielle M Vande Pol Scott S Podjarny Alberto A Travé Gilles G Zanier Katia K

Nature 20160120 7587

The p53 pro-apoptotic tumour suppressor is mutated or functionally altered in most cancers. In epithelial tumours induced by 'high-risk' mucosal human papilloma viruses, including human cervical carcinoma and a growing number of head-and-neck cancers, p53 is degraded by the viral oncoprotein E6 (ref. 2). In this process, E6 binds to a short leucine (L)-rich LxxLL consensus sequence within the cellular ubiquitin ligase E6AP. Subsequently, the E6/E6AP heterodimer recruits and degrades p53 (ref. 4) ...[more]

PMID: 26789255

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Project description:The degradation of p53 is a hallmark of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) of the alpha genus and HPV-related carcinogenicity. The oncoprotein E6 forms a ternary complex with the E3 ubiquitin ligase E6-associated protein (E6AP) and tumor suppressor protein p53 targeting p53 for ubiquitination. The extent of p53 degradation by different E6 proteins varies greatly, even for the closely related HPV16 and HPV31. HPV16 E6 and HPV31 E6 display high sequence identity (∼67%). We report here, for the first time, the structure of HPV31 E6 bound to the LxxLL motif of E6AP. HPV16 E6 and HPV31 E6 are structurally very similar, in agreement with the high sequence conservation. Both E6 proteins bind E6AP and degrade p53. However, the binding affinities of 31 E6 to the LxxLL motif of E6AP and p53, respectively, are reduced 2-fold and 5.4-fold compared to 16 E6. The affinity of E6-E6AP-p53 ternary complex formation parallels the efficacy of the subsequent reaction, namely, degradation of p53. Therefore, closely related E6 proteins addressing the same cellular targets may still diverge in their binding efficiencies, possibly explaining their different phenotypic or pathological impacts.IMPORTANCE Variations of carcinogenicity of human papillomaviruses are related to variations of the E6 and E7 interactome. While different HPV species and genera are known to target distinct host proteins, the fine differences between E6 and E7 of closely related HPVs, supposed to target the same cellular protein pools, remain to be addressed. We compare the oncogenic E6 proteins of the closely related high-risk HPV31 and HPV16 with regard to their structure and their efficiency of ternary complex formation with their cellular targets p53 and E6AP, which results in p53 degradation. We solved the crystal structure of 31 E6 bound to the E6AP LxxLL motif. HPV16 E6 and 31 E6 structures are highly similar, but a few sequence variations lead to different protein contacts within the ternary complex and, as quantified here, an overall lower binding affinity of 31 E6 than 16 E6. These results align with the observed lower p53 degradation potential of 31 E6.

Project description:Our previous studies showed a down-regulation of GRIM-19 in primary human cervical cancers, and restoration of GRIM-19 induced tumor regression. The induction of tumor suppressor protein p53 ubiquitination and degradation by E6 oncoportein of high risk-HPV through forming a stable complex with E6AP is considered as a critical mechanism for cervical tumor development. The aims of this study were to determine the potential role of GRIM-19 in rescuing p53 protein and inducing cervical cancer cell apoptosis.The protein levels of GRIM-19 and p53 were detected in normal cervical tissues from 45 patients who underwent hysterectomy for reasons other than neoplasias of either the cervix or endometrium, and cervical cancer tissues from 60 patients with non-metastatic squamous epithelial carcinomas. Coimmunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assay were performed to examine the interaction of GRIM-19 with 18E6 and E6AP in vivo and in vitro respectively. The competition of 18E6 with E6AP in binding GRIM-19 by performing competition pull-down assays was designed to examine the disruption of E6/E6AP complex by GRIM-19. The augment of E6AP ubiquitination by GRIM-19 was detected in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination assay. The effects of GRIM-19-dependent p53 accumulation on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis were explored by MTT, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy respectively. The tumor suppression was detected by xenograft mouse model.The levels of GRIM-19 and p53 were concurrently down regulated in cervical cancers. The restoration of GRIM-19 can induce ubiquitination and degradation of E6AP, and disrupt the E6/E6AP complex through the interaction of N-terminus of GRIM-19 with both E6 and E6AP, which protected p53 from degradation and promoted cell apoptosis. Tumor xenograft studies also revealed the suppression of p53 degradation in presence of GRIM-19. These data suggest that GRIM-19 can block E6/E6AP complex; and synergistically suppress cervical tumor growth with p53.

Dataset Information

Structure of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex required for HPV-mediated degradation of p53.

Publications

Structure of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex required for HPV-mediated degradation of p53.

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