HIF is a transcriptional complex that plays a central role in mammalian oxygen homeostasis. Recent studies have defined posttranslational modification by prolyl hydroxylation as a key regulatory event that targets HIF-alpha subunits for proteasomal destruction via the von Hippel-Lindau ubiquitylation complex. Here, we define a conserved HIF-VHL-prolyl hydroxylase pathway in C. elegans, and use a genetic approach to identify EGL-9 as a dioxygenase that regulates HIF by prolyl hydroxylation. In mammalian cells, we show that the HIF-prolyl hydroxylases are represented by a series of isoforms bearing a conserved 2-histidine-1-carboxylate iron coordination motif at the catalytic site. Direct modulation of recombinant enzyme activity by graded hypoxia, iron chelation, and cobaltous ions mirrors the characteristics of HIF induction in vivo, fulfilling requirements for these enzymes being oxygen sensors that regulate HIF.

Oxygen-dependent proteolytic destruction of hypoxiainducible factor-a (HIF-a) subunits plays a central role in regulating transcriptional responses to hypoxia. Recent studies have de®ned a key function for the von Hippel±Lindau tumour suppressor E3 ubiquitin ligase (VHLE3) in this process, and have de®ned an interaction with HIF-1a that is regulated by prolyl hydroxylation. Here we show that two independent regions within the HIF-a oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODDD) are targeted for ubiquitylation by VHLE3 in a manner dependent upon prolyl hydroxylation. In a series of in vitro and in vivo assays, we demonstrate the independent and non-redundant operation of each site in regulation of the HIF system. Both sites contain a common core motif, but differ both in overall sequence and in the conditions under which they bind to the VHLE3 ligase complex. The de®nition of two independent destruction domains implicates a more complex system of pVHL±HIF-a interactions, but reinforces the role of prolyl hydroxylation as an oxygen-dependent destruction signal.

The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) has emerged as a key factor in cellular responses to oxygen availability, being required for the oxygen-dependent proteolysis of ␣ subunits of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF). Mutations in VHL cause a hereditary cancer syndrome associated with dysregulated angiogenesis, and up-regulation of hypoxia inducible genes. Here we investigate the mechanisms underlying these processes and show that extracts from VHL-deficient renal carcinoma cells have a defect in HIF-␣ ubiquitylation activity which is complemented by exogenous pVHL. This defect was specific for HIF-␣ among a range of substrates tested. Furthermore, HIF-␣ subunits were the only pVHL-associated proteasomal substrates identified by comparison of metabolically labeled anti-pVHL immunoprecipitates from proteosomally inhibited cells and normal cells. Analysis of pVHL/HIF-␣ interactions defined short sequences of conserved residues within the internal transactivation domains of HIF-␣ molecules sufficient for recognition by pVHL. In contrast, while full-length pVHL and the p19 variant interact with HIF-␣, the association was abrogated by further N-terminal and C-terminal truncations. The interaction was also disrupted by tumor-associated mutations in the ␤-domain of pVHL and loss of interaction was associated with defective HIF-␣ ubiquitylation and regulation, defining a mechanism by which these mutations generate a constitutively hypoxic pattern of gene expression promoting angiogenesis. The findings indicate that pVHL regulates HIF-␣ proteolysis by acting as the recognition component of a ubiquitin ligase complex, and support a model in which its ␤ domain interacts with short recognition sequences in HIF-␣ subunits.

Studies on hypoxia-sensitive pathways have revealed a series of Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases that regulate hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) by prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylation. The recognition of these unprecedented signaling processes has led to a search for other substrates of the HIF hydroxylases. Here we show that the human HIF asparaginyl hydroxylase, factor inhibiting HIF (FIH), also efficiently hydroxylates specific asparaginyl (Asn)-residues within proteins of the IB family. After the identification of a series of ankyrin repeat domain (ARD)-containing proteins in a screen for proteins interacting with FIH, the ARDs of p105 (NFKB1) and IB␣ were shown to be efficiently hydroxylated by FIH at specific Asn residues in the hairpin loops linking particular ankyrin repeats. The target Asn residue is highly conserved as part of the ankyrin consensus, and peptides derived from a diverse range of ARDcontaining proteins supported FIH enzyme activity. These findings demonstrate that this type of protein hydroxylation is not restricted to HIF and strongly suggest that FIH-dependent ARD hydroxylation is a common occurrence, potentially providing an oxygen-sensitive signal to a diverse range of processes.NF-B ͉ 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase ͉ protein hydroxylation C ells react to variation in oxygen availability with adaptive responses that involve changes in most basic cellular functions. Analysis of the transcriptional component of this response has defined pathways that regulate hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) by posttranslational hydroxylation of specific residues. HIF is an ␣͞␤ heterodimer that binds hypoxia response elements in a range of hypoxia-inducible genes (for review, see ref. 1). Regulation is mediated by the ␣-subunits and involves dual mechanisms controlling both the abundance and activity of the protein. Thus, hydroxylation of specific prolyl residues promotes interaction with the von Hippel-Lindau E3 ligase and hence proteolysis, whereas hydroxylation of a C-terminal Asn residue blocks recruitment of the coactivators p300͞CBP. The prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylase enzymes that catalyze these reactions are 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases that couple the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-OG with oxidation of peptidyl substrates. Dioxygen is an obligate cosubstrate, and reductions in the rate of hydroxylation during hypoxia allow HIF-␣ to escape VHLmediated destruction and to activate transcription (for reviews, see refs. 2 and 3).HIF prolyl hydroxylation is catalyzed by three enzymes, PHD1, -2, and -3 (equivalent to EGLN2, -1, and -3 and HPH-3, -2, and -1). HIF Asn hydroxylation is catalyzed by a more distantly related 2-OG-dependent dioxygenase, factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) (for reviews, see refs. 2 and 3). A key question raised by these findings is whether the roles of all four dioxygenases are specific to HIF regulation, or whether one or more have alternative substrates. Several studies have identified proteins that interact to modulate HIF hydroxylase activity (4) or ...