Roles of the ubiquitin ligase CUL4B and ADP-ribosyltransferase TiPARP in TCDD-induced nuclear export and proteasomal degradation of the transcription factor AHR.

TitleRoles of the ubiquitin ligase CUL4B and ADP-ribosyltransferase TiPARP in TCDD-induced nuclear export and proteasomal degradation of the transcription factor AHR.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsRijo MPaz, Diani-Moore S, Yang C, Zhou P, Rifkind AB
JournalJ Biol Chem
Volume297
Issue2
Pagination100886
Date Published2021 Aug
ISSN1083-351X
Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor activated by exogenous halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, including the environmental toxin TCDD, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, and naturally occurring dietary and endogenous compounds. The activated AHR enhances transcription of specific genes including phase I and phase II metabolism enzymes and other targets genes such as the TCDD-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (TiPARP). The regulation of AHR activation is a dynamic process: immediately after transcriptional activation of the AHR by TCDD, the AHR is exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm where it is subjected to proteasomal degradation. However, the mechanisms regulating AHR degradation are not well understood. Here, we studied the role of two enzymes reported to enhance AHR breakdown: the cullin 4B (CUL4B) complex, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets the AHR and other proteins for ubiquitination, and TiPARP, which targets proteins for ADP-ribosylation, a posttranslational modification that can increase susceptibility to degradation. Using a WT mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell line and an MEF cell line in which CUL4B has been deleted (MEF), we discovered that loss of CUL4B partially prevented AHR degradation after TCDD exposure, while knocking down TiPARP in MEF cells completely abolished AHR degradation upon TCDD treatment. Increased TCDD-activated AHR protein levels in MEF and MEF cells in which TiPARP was knocked down led to enhanced AHR transcriptional activity, indicating that CUL4B and TiPARP restrain AHR action. This study reveals a novel function of TiPARP in controlling TCDD-activated AHR nuclear export and subsequent proteasomal degradation.

DOI10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100886
Alternate JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID34146543
PubMed Central IDPMC8318916
Grant ListR01 CA213992 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA221152 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 ES027488 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
Related Faculty: 
Pengbo Zhou, Ph.D.

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