Publications
Nature communicationsMay 2014 |
5
3832
DOI:
10.1038/ncomms4832

A high-coverage shRNA screen identifies TMEM129 as an E3 ligase involved in ER-associated protein degradation

van de Weijer, Michael L; Bassik, Michael C; Luteijn, Rutger D; Voorburg, Cornelia M; Lohuis, Mirjam A M; Kremmer, Elisabeth; Hoeben, Rob C; LeProust, Emily M; Chen, Siyuan; Hoelen, Hanneke; Ressing, Maaike E; Patena, Weronika; Weissman, Jonathan S; McManus, Michael T; Wiertz, Emmanuel J H J; Lebbink, Robert Jan
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
Misfolded ER proteins are retrotranslocated into the cytosol for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The human cytomegalovirus protein US11 exploits this ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway to downregulate HLA class I molecules in virus-infected cells, thereby evading elimination by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. US11-mediated degradation of HLA class I has been instrumental in the identification of key components of mammalian ERAD, including Derlin-1, p97, VIMP and SEL1L. Despite this, the process governing retrotranslocation of the substrate is still poorly understood. Here using a high-coverage genome-wide shRNA library, we identify the uncharacterized protein TMEM129 and the ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme UBE2J2 to be essential for US11-mediated HLA class I downregulation. TMEM129 is an unconventional C4C4-type RING finger E3 ubiquitin ligase that resides within a complex containing various other ERAD components, including Derlin-1, Derlin-2, VIMP and p97, indicating that TMEM129 is an integral part of the ER-resident dislocation complex mediating US11-induced HLA class I degradation.
Product Used
Genes

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