TRIM32 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase for dysbindin

• Published in: Human molecular genetics Vol. 18; no. 13; pp. 2344 - 2358
• Main Authors: Locke, Matthew, Tinsley, Caroline L., Benson, Matthew A., Blake, Derek J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.07.2009; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Line; Dysbindin; Dystrophin-Associated Proteins; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Humans; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle - genetics; Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle - metabolism; Mutation; Protein Binding; Protein Transport; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tripartite Motif Proteins; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - genetics; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - metabolism; Ubiquitination; Genetics; Carbon-nitrogen ligases; Enzyme; Ligases; Ubiquitin-protein ligase
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddp167

Mutations in the gene encoding tripartite motif protein 32 (TRIM32) cause two seemingly diverse diseases: limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H (LGMD2H) or sarcotubular myopathy (STM) and Bardet–Biedl syndrome type 11(BBS11). Although TRIM32 is involved in protein ubiquitination, its substrates and the molecular consequences of disease-causing mutations are poorly understood. In this paper, we show that TRIM32 is a widely expressed ubiquitin ligase that is localized to the Z-line in skeletal muscle. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we found that TRIM32 binds and ubiquitinates dysbindin, a protein implicated in the genetic aetiology of schizophrenia, augmenting its degradation. Small-interfering RNA-mediated knock-down of TRIM32 in myoblasts resulted in elevated levels of dysbindin. Importantly, the LGMD2H/STM-associated TRIM32 mutations, D487N and R394H impair ubiquitin ligase activity towards dysbindin and were mislocalized in heterologous cells. These mutants were able to self-associate and also co-immunoprecipitated with wild-type TRIM32 in transfected cells. Furthermore, the D487N mutant could bind to both dysbindin and its E2 enzyme but was defective in monoubiquitination. In contrast, the BBS11 mutant P130S did not show any biochemical differences compared with the wild-type protein. Our data identify TRIM32 as a regulator of dysbindin and demonstrate that the LGMD2H/STM mutations may impair substrate ubiquitination.