Eukaryotic cells require iron for survival and have developed regulatory mechanisms for maintaining appropriate intracellular iron concentrations. The degradation of iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) in iron-replete cells is a key event in this pathway, but the E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for its proteolysis has remained elusive. We found that a SKP1-CUL1-FBXL5 ubiquitin ligase protein complex associates with and promotes the iron-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of IRP2. The F-box substrate adaptor protein FBXL5 was degraded upon iron and oxygen depletion in a process that required an iron-binding hemerythrin-like domain in its N terminus. Thus, iron homeostasis is regulated by a proteolytic pathway that couples IRP2 degradation to intracellular iron levels through the stability and activity of FBXL5.
Iron regulatory protein-1 (IRP-1) is a cytosolic RNAbinding protein that is a regulator of iron homeostasis in mammalian cells. IRP-1 binds to RNA structures, known as iron-responsive elements, located in the untranslated regions of specific mRNAs, and it regulates the translation or stability of these mRNAs. Iron regulates IRP-1 activity by converting it from an RNA-binding apoprotein into a [4Fe-4S] cluster protein exhibiting aconitase activity. IRP-1 is widely found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here, we report the biochemical characterization and regulation of an IRP-1 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans (GEI-22/ACO-1). GEI-22/ACO-1 is expressed in the cytosol of cells of the hypodermis and the intestine. Like mammalian IRP-1/aconitases, GEI-22/ ACO-1 exhibits aconitase activity and is post-translationally regulated by iron. Although GEI-22/ACO-1 shares striking resemblance to mammalian IRP-1, it fails to bind RNA. This is consistent with the lack of iron-responsive elements in the C. elegans ferritin genes, ftn-1 and ftn-2. While mammalian ferritin H and L mRNAs are translationally regulated by iron, the amounts of C. elegans ftn-1 and ftn-2 mRNAs are increased by iron and decreased by iron chelation. Excess iron did not significantly alter worm development but did shorten their life span. These studies indicated that iron homeostasis in C. elegans shares some similarities with those of vertebrates.Iron is an essential element required for growth and survival of most organisms. The importance of iron is implicit in the role it plays in oxygen transport and heme synthesis as well as its ability to serve as a cofactor for enzymes involved in a variety of biological processes including DNA synthesis, energy production, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Abnormally high concentration of cellular iron is toxic due to its ability to catalyze the generation of free radicals that damage DNA, lipids, and proteins. In humans, the accumulation of excess cellular iron can result in cirrhosis, arthritis, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, and increased risk of cancer and heart disease. To provide adequate iron for cellular needs yet prevent the accumulation of excess iron, the concentration of iron within cells is tightly controlled.In vertebrates, the iron regulatory proteins 1 and 2 (IRP-1 and IRP-2) 1 regulate iron homeostasis. IRPs are cytosolic RNAbinding proteins that regulate the translation or the stability of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in iron and energy homeostasis (1-4). IRPs bind to RNA stem-loop structures, known as iron-responsive elements (IREs), that are located in either the 5Ј-or 3Ј-untranslated regions (UTRs) of specific mRNAs. These mRNAs encode proteins involved in iron storage (ferritin), iron utilization (erythroid aminolevilunate synthase and mitochondrial aconitase), and iron transport (transferrin receptor and divalent metal transporter-1). When iron is scarce, IRP binding to the 5Ј IRE in ferritin mRNA represses translation, whereas IRP binding to the 3Ј IREs in the transferrin receptor mRNA...
Placental iron transport during the last trimester of pregnancy determines the iron endowment of the neonate. Iron transport is a function of the major iron transport proteins: transferrin receptor-1 (TfR-1) and ferroportin-1 (FPN-1). The mRNAs for TfR-1 and, potentially, FPN-1 are posttranscriptionally regulated by iron regulatory protein (IRP)-1 and IRP-2. We assessed the effect of gestational age and fetal iron status on IRP-1- and IRP-2-binding activity and on the localization and protein expression of TfR-1 and FPN-1 protein at 24-40 wk of gestation in 21 placentas obtained from iron-sufficient nonanemic mothers. Gestational age had no effect on cord serum ferritin concentration, IRP-2 RNA-binding activity, transporter protein location, and TfR-1 or FPN-1 protein expression. IRP-1 activity remained constant until full term, when it decreased (P = 0.01). Placental ferritin (r = 0.76, P < 0.001) and FPN-1 (r = 0.44, P < 0.05) expression increased with gestational age. Fetal iron status, as indexed by cord serum ferritin concentration, was inversely related to placental IRP-1 (r = -0.66, P < 0.001) and IRP-2 (r = -0.42, P = 0.05) activities. Placental ferritin protein expression correlated better with IRP-1 (r = -0.45, P = 0.04) than with IRP-2 (r = -0.35, P = 0.10) activity. Placental TfR-1 and FPN-1 protein expression was independent of fetal or placental iron status and IRP activities. Iron status had no effect on transport protein localization. We conclude that, toward the end of the third trimester of iron-sufficient human pregnancy, the placenta accumulates ferritin and potentially increases placental-fetal iron delivery through increased FPN-1 expression. IRP-1 may have a more dominant role than IRP-2 activity in regulating ferritin expression.
Iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the posttranscriptional expression of proteins required for iron homeostasis such as ferritin and transferrin receptor 1. IRP2 RNA-binding activity is primarily regulated by iron-mediated proteasomal degradation, but studies have suggested that IRP2 RNA binding is also regulated by thiol oxidation. We generated a model of IRP2 bound to RNA and found that two cysteines (C512 and C516) are predicted to lie in the RNA-binding cleft. Site-directed mutagenesis and thiol modification show that, while IRP2 C512 and C516 do not directly interact with RNA, both cysteines are located within the RNA-binding cleft and must be unmodified/reduced for IRP2-RNA interactions. Oxidative stress induced by cellular glucose deprivation reduces the RNA-binding activity of IRP2 but not IRP2-C512S or IRP2-C516S, consistent with the formation of a disulfide bond between IRP2 C512 and C516 during oxidative stress. Decreased IRP2 RNA binding is correlated with reduced transferrin receptor 1 mRNA abundance. These studies provide insight into the structural basis for IRP2-RNA interactions and reveal an iron-independent mechanism for regulating iron homeostasis through the redox regulation of IRP2 cysteines.Iron is an essential nutrient required for a variety of cellular processes, including DNA synthesis, respiration, and heme biosynthesis. However, ferrous iron readily reacts with hydroperoxides to produce hydroxyl radicals that can cause cellular damage. As both iron excess and deficiency are deleterious, cells have developed mechanisms to ensure that iron levels are sufficient for cellular need but at the same time limit iron toxicity.Iron regulatory proteins 1 and 2 (IRP1 and IRP2) are the key iron sensors in mammalian cells (32,48). IRPs are cytosolic proteins that bind RNA stem-loops known as iron-responsive elements (IREs) located in the 5Ј or 3Ј untranslated regions of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in iron homeostasis. IRP binding to a 5Ј IRE present in ferritin (iron storage) or ferroportin (iron exporter) mRNAs represses protein translation. IRP binding to 3Ј IREs, such as those in transferrin receptor 1 (TfR-1) and divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) (iron importers), stabilizes the mRNA and increases protein expression. While both IRPs function as RNA-binding proteins when iron content is low, increased cellular iron regulates IRP1 and IRP2 by different mechanisms. Increased cellular iron results in the assembly of an [4Fe-4S] cluster in the RNA-binding cleft of IRP1, which allows IRP1 to function as a cytosolic aconitase. Unlike IRP1, IRP2 does not coordinate an [4Fe-4S] cluster or function as an aconitase. Instead, the RNA-binding activity of IRP2 is reduced by iron-dependent polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. The role of IRP2 as the predominant RNA-binding protein in vivo has been established in murine knockout models in which Irp1 Ϫ/Ϫ mice display no overt phenotype, whereas Irp2 Ϫ/Ϫ mice develop microcytic anemia and locomotor deficits...
To address this question for the PhoB protein from Escherichia coli, we have employed two separate genetic approaches, deletion analysis and domain swapping. In-frame deletions were generated within the phoB gene, and the phenotypes of the mutants were analyzed. The output domain, by itself, retained significant ability to activate transcription of the phoA gene. However, another deletion mutant that contained the C-terminal ␣-helix of the receiver domain (␣5) in addition to the entire output domain was unable to activate transcription of phoA. This result suggests that the ␣5 helix of the receiver domain interacts with and inhibits the output domain. We also constructed two chimeric proteins that join various parts of the chemotaxis response regulator, CheY, to PhoB. A chimera that joins the N-terminal ϳ85% of CheY's receiver domain to the 5-␣5 loop of PhoB's receiver domain displayed phosphorylation-dependent activity. The results from both sets of experiments suggest that the regulation of PhoB involves the phosphorylation-mediated modulation of inhibitory contacts between the ␣5 helix of its unphosphorylated receiver domain and its output domain.
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