The human AAA+ ATPase CLPB (SKD3) is a protein disaggregase in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) and functions to promote the solubilization of various mitochondrial proteins. Loss-of-function CLPB mutations are associated with a few human diseases with neutropenia and neurological disorders. Unlike canonical AAA+ proteins, CLPB contains a unique ankyrin repeat domain (ANK) at its N-terminus. How CLPB functions as a disaggregase and the role of its ANK domain are currently unclear. Herein, we report a comprehensive structural characterization of human CLPB in both the apo- and substrate-bound states. CLPB assembles into homo-tetradecamers in apo-state and is remodeled into homo-dodecamers upon substrate binding. Conserved pore-loops (PLs) on the ATPase domains form a spiral staircase to grip and translocate the substrate in a step-size of 2 amino acid residues. The ANK domain is not only responsible for maintaining the higher-order assembly but also essential for the disaggregase activity. Interactome analysis suggests that the ANK domain may directly interact with a variety of mitochondrial substrates. These results reveal unique properties of CLPB as a general disaggregase in mitochondria and highlight its potential as a target for the treatment of various mitochondria-related diseases.

The human AAA+ ATPase CLPB (aka, HSP78 and Skd3) is a protein disaggregase and functions to promote the solubilization of proteins in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Unlike other AAA+ protein unfoldases or disaggregases, CLPB contains an ankyrin repeat containing domain (ANK) at its N-terminus. Mutations of CLPB are closely associated with a few human diseases, such as 3-methylglutaconic aciduria (3-MGA) and severe congenital neutropenia (SCN). The mechanism of CLPB functions as a disaggregase and the role of its unique ANK domain are currently unclear. Herein, we report a comprehensive structural characterization of human CLPB in both the apo- and substrate-bound states. Our data show that CLPB assembles into homo-tetradecamers in apo-state and dodecamers in the presence of a substrate, mediated by ANK domains via a "head-to-head" organization. Conserved pore-loops (PLs) on the ATPase domains form a spiral staircase to grasp and translocate the substrate in a step-size of two amino acid residues. We also show that the ANK domain is functionally essential, and more important, responsible for direct binding to various mitocondiral proteins in the inner membrane or intermembrane space. These results suggest that CLPB functions as a general disaggregase in mitochondria and highlight its potential as a target for the treatment of various mitochondria-related diseases.

Bacterial HflX is a conserved ribosome-binding GTPase involved in splitting ribosomal complexes accumulated under stress condition. However, the atomic details of its ribosomal interaction remain to be elucidated. In this work, we present a high-resolution structure of the E. coli 50S subunit bound with HflX. The structure reveals highly specific contacts between HflX and the ribosomal RNA, and in particular, an insertion loop of the N-terminal domain of HflX is situated in the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) and makes direct interactions with PTC residues. Interestingly, this loop displays steric clash with a few PTC-targeting antibiotics on the 50S subunit, such as chloramphenicol. Deletion of hflX results in hypersensitivity to chloramphenicol treatment, and a loop residue G154 of HflX is important for the observed chloramphenicol resistance. Overall, our results suggest that HflX could be a general stress response factor that functions in both stalled ribosome splitting and PTC antibiotic displacing.