Identification of three major sentrinization sites in PML

J Biol Chem. 1998 Oct 9;273(41):26675-82. doi: 10.1074/jbc.273.41.26675.

Abstract

Acute promyelocytic leukemia arises following a reciprocal chromosome translocation t(15;17), which generates PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha fusion proteins (PML-RARalpha). We have shown previously that wild type PML, but not PML-RARalpha, is covalently modified by the sentrin family of ubiquitin-like proteins (Kamitani, T., Nguyen, H. P., Kito, K., Fukuda-Kamitani, T., and Yeh, E. T. H. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3117-3120). To understand the mechanisms underlying the differential sentrinization of PML versus PML-RARalpha, extensive mutational analysis was carried out to determine which Lys residues are sentrinized. We show that Lys65 in the RING finger domain, Lys160 in the B1 Box, and Lys490 in the nuclear localization signal contributes three major sentrinization sites. The PML mutant with Lys to Arg substitutions in all three sites is expressed normally, but cannot be sentrinized. Furthermore, the triple substitution mutant is localized predominantly to the nucleoplasm, in contrast to wild type PML, which is localized to the nuclear bodies. Thus, sentrinization of PML, in the context of the RING finger and the B1 box, regulates nuclear body formation. Furthermore, we showed that sentrinization of PML-RARalpha could be restored by overexpression of sentrin, but not by retinoic acid treatment. These studies provide novel insight into the pathobiochemistry of acute promyelocytic leukemia and the sentrinization pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • COS Cells
  • DNA Primers
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
  • SUMO-1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Ubiquitins / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • SUMO-1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Ubiquitins
  • promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha fusion oncoprotein
  • Tretinoin