NEDD8

Like Ub, NEDD8 has similar structural features and invariant residues that are important for NEDD8-specific functions. These include sequences at the C-terminus and most of the lysine residues (including K48 which is critical for Ub degradation signalling), and a hydrophobic patch ((Leu-8, Ile-44, Val-70). The mechanisms of NEDD8 metabolism, activation, conjugation and deconjugation parallel that of Ub. NEDD8 is also translated as a precursor protein with additional C-terminal residues that have to be removed to expose the conserved di-glycine motif that is characteristic of the mature and active form. NEDD8 is also activated by a distinct E1-like enzyme and dedicated E2 enzymes to form conjugates with intracellular proteins.

The human NEDD8 activating E1 enzyme is a heterodimer composed of APPBP1 and UBA3 subunits. The APPBP1/UBA3 enzyme has homology to the N- and C-terminal halves of the ubiquitin E1 enzyme, respectively. The UBA3 subunit contains the catalytic center and activates NEDD8 in an ATP-dependent reaction by forming a high-energy thiolester intermediate. The activated NEDD8 is subsequently transferred to the UbcH12 (Ube2M) or Ube2F E2 enzymes, and is then conjugated to specific substrates in the presence of the appropriate E3 ligases. The best characterized substrates of NEDD8 modification are the cullin subunits of SCF ubiquitin E3 ligases. Cullins function as a core scaffold for cullin-RING ligase enzymes (CLRs or SCF) and together they define one of the largest subfamily of RING-based E3s. The NEDDylation of cullins is critical for the recruitment of E2 to the ligase complex which promotes ubiquitination by CLRs. NEDDylation thus regulates the ubiquitination and degradation of CLR-dependent protein substrates and has therefore been implicated in cell cycle progression and control, cytoskeletal regulation and embryogenesis. Ube2F interacts specifically with the E3 ubiquitin ligase RBX2, but not RBX1, suggests that the RBX2-UBE2F complex modifies specific target proteins, such as CUL5. UbcH12 with interacts with RBX1 and targets different types of cullin substrates. The UBE2F and UBE2M enzymes thus represent a hierarchical expansion of the NEDD8 conjugation system in establishing selective culling RING ligase activation which influences substrate sub-type NEDDylation.

There are several different proteases which can remove NEDD8 from protein conjugates. UCHL1, UCHL3 and USP21 proteases have dual specificity for NEDD8 and ubiquitin. Proteases specific for NEDD8 removal from substrates include the COP9 signalosome (CSN) acts on the CUL1 subunit of SCF ubiquitin ligases, and NEDP1 (or DEN1, SENP8) which acts on CUL1 and CUL2 cullins. NEDP1 is also thought to have a predominant role in the maturation step of NEDD8 precursors. These cysteine proteases include members of different families including UCHs (UCHL1 and UCL3), USPs (USP21), JAMM metalloproteases (CSN) and SENP (NEDP1).

The chemical or enzymatic modification of NEDD8 proteins at important functional sites results in several useful derivatives. Modifying the C-terminal glycine carboxyl of SUMO to an aldehyde (NEDD8-H) or vinylsulfone (NEDD8-VS) groups results in highly potent inhibitors of NEDD8-specific hydrolases. Alternatively, substrates for the kinetic analysis of enzymes like NEDP1 are generated by synthetically conjugating fluorophores to the C-terminus of NEDD8 (NEDD8-AMC). NEDD8 can also be coupled to agarose via its primary amines, leaving the C-terminus free and available to purify ubiquitin binding proteins. The N-terminus or lysine groups of NEDD8 can be modified by small other haptens (fluorescein/rhodamine or biotin) for the sensitive detection by direct fluorescence or secondary reagents (eg. avidin or streptavidin reagents) respectively. These groups can also be used for the affinity purification of NEDD8 conjugates or NEDD8 binding proteins. Since the chemistry of NEDD8 conjugation involves its C-terminus, these modifications result in a fully functional molecule that is viable in conjugation reactions.