OTUD4 Is a Phospho-Activated K63 Deubiquitinase that Regulates MyD88-Dependent Signaling

Mol Cell. 2018 Feb 1;69(3):505-516.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.01.009.

Abstract

Ubiquitination is a major mechanism that regulates numerous cellular processes, including autophagy, DNA damage signaling, and inflammation. While hundreds of ubiquitin ligases exist to conjugate ubiquitin onto substrates, approximately 100 deubiquitinases are encoded by the human genome. Thus, deubiquitinases are likely regulated by unidentified mechanisms to target distinct substrates and cellular functions. Here, we demonstrate that the deubiquitinase OTUD4, which nominally encodes a K48-specific deubiquitinase, is phosphorylated near its catalytic domain, activating a latent K63-specific deubiquitinase. Besides phosphorylation, this latter activity requires an adjacent ubiquitin-interacting motif, which increases the affinity of OTUD4 for K63-linked chains. We reveal the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-associated factor MyD88 as a target of this K63 deubiquitinase activity. Consequently, TLR-mediated activation of NF-κB is negatively regulated by OTUD4, and macrophages from Otud4-/- mice exhibit increased inflammatory signaling upon TLR stimulation. Our results reveal insights into how a deubiquitinase may modulate diverse processes through post-translational modification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / genetics
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteolysis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Ubiquitin
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • OTUD4 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases