Skip to main content

Real-Time Deubiquitination Assays Using a Free Ubiquitin Sensor

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Deubiquitinases

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2591))

Abstract

Deubiquitinating enzymes cleave ubiquitin (Ub) from its attachment to another Ub, other proteins, peptides, or non-peptide adducts. In all cases, substrate hydrolysis by DUBs releases free Ub or polyubiquitin (polyUb) chains. Whereas most quantitative DUB assays depend on fluorescently labeled artificial substrates, employing a sensor able to detect Ub release in real time makes it possible to monitor DUB activity using virtually any Ub conjugate as a substrate. The protocols here describe the preparation of Atto532-tUI, a high-affinity sensor for free Ub, and its use in real-time deubiquitination assays.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mevissen TET, Komander D (2017) Mechanisms of deubiquitinase specificity and regulation. Annu Rev Biochem 86:159–192. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-044916

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Clague MJ, Urbé S, Komander D (2019) Breaking the chains: deubiquitylating enzyme specificity begets function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 20:338–352. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-019-0099-1

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Harrigan JA, Jacq X, Martin NM et al (2018) Deubiquitylating enzymes and drug discovery: emerging opportunities. Nat Rev Drug Discov 17:57–78. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2017.152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Dharadhar S, Kim RQ, Uckelmann M et al (2019) Quantitative analysis of USP activity in vitro. Methods Enzymol 618:281–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2018.12.023

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wiener R, DiBello AT, Lombardi PM et al (2013) E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes regulate the deubiquitinating activity of OTUB1. Nat Struct Mol Biol 20:1033–1039. https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.2655

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Faesen AC, Luna-Vargas MPA, Geurink PP et al (2011) The differential modulation of USP activity by internal regulatory domains, interactors and eight ubiquitin chain types. Chem Biol 18:1550–1561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2011.10.017

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Deol KK, Crowe SO, Du J et al (2020) Proteasome-bound UCH37/UCHL5 debranches ubiquitin chains to promote degradation. Mol Cell 80:796–809.e9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2020.10.017

  8. Song A, Hazlett Z, Abeykoon D et al (2021) Branched ubiquitin chain binding and deubiquitination by UCH37 facilitate proteasome clearance of stress-induced inclusions. eLife 10:e72798. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.72798

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Choi Y-S, Bollinger SA, Prada LF et al (2019) High-affinity free ubiquitin sensors for quantifying ubiquitin homeostasis and deubiquitination. Nat Methods 16:771–777. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-019-0469-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhang D, Raasi S, Fushman D (2008) Affinity makes the difference: nonselective interaction of the UBA domain of ubiquilin-1 with monomeric ubiquitin and polyubiquitin chains. J Mol Biol 377:162–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2007.12.029

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Reyes-Turcu FE, Horton JR, Mullally JE et al (2006) The ubiquitin binding domain ZnF UBP recognizes the C-terminal diglycine motif of unanchored ubiquitin. Cell 124:1197–1208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.02.038

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grants R01GM115997 and R21GM135818 to R.E. Cohen. Y.-S. Choi was supported by the South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (SD BRIN) through an IDeA award from NIH-NIGMS (grant no. P20GM103443). The Usp2cc assays were supported by WestCore at BHSU.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert E. Cohen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this protocol

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this protocol

Choi, YS., Cohen, R.E. (2023). Real-Time Deubiquitination Assays Using a Free Ubiquitin Sensor. In: Maupin-Furlow, J., Edelmann, M.J. (eds) Deubiquitinases. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2591. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2803-4_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2803-4_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-2802-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-2803-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics