Identification of a novel higher molecular weight isoform of USP7/HAUSP that interacts with the Herpes simplex virus type-1 immediate early protein ICP0

Virus Res. 2008 Oct;137(1):64-71. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2008.05.017. Epub 2008 Jul 17.

Abstract

The Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) regulatory protein ICP0, a RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase, stimulates the onset of viral lytic replication and the reactivation of quiescent viral genomes from latency. Like many ubiquitin ligases ICP0 induces its own ubiquitination, a process that can lead to its proteasome-dependent degradation. ICP0 counteracts this activity by recruiting the cellular ubiquitin-specific protease USP7/HAUSP. Here we show that ICP0 can also interact with a previously unidentified isoform of USP7 (termed here USP7(beta)). This isoform is not a predominantly ubiquitinated, SUMO-modified, or phosphorylated species of USP7 but is constitutively expressed in a number of different cell types. Like USP7, USP7(beta) binds specifically to an electrophilic ubiquitin probe, indicating that it contains an accessible catalytic core with potential ubiquitin-protease activity. The interaction formed between ICP0 and USP7(beta) requires ICP0 to have an intact USP7-binding domain and results in its susceptibility to ICP0-mediated degradation during HSV-1 infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • HeLa Cells
  • Herpes Simplex / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mutation
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / genetics
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Ubiquitin
  • Viral Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Vmw110 protein, Human herpesvirus 1
  • USP7 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex