The COP9 signalosome regulates the Neurospora circadian clock by controlling the stability of the SCFFWD-1 complex

Qun He, Ping Cheng, Qiyang He, Yi Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

149 Scopus citations

Abstract

The COP9 signalosome (CSN) promotes the function of SCF-type cullin-based ubiquitin ligase complexes in vivo. Paradoxically, removal of the Nedd8 modification of cullins by CSN inhibits the ubiquitin ligase activity of SCF complexes in vitro. Ubiquitination-mediated degradation of the Neurospora circadian clock protein FREQUENCY (FRQ) is critical for clock function. Ubiquitination of FRQ requires FWD-1, the substrate-recruiting subunit of an SCF complex. Here we show that disruption of a subunit of CSN (csn-2) impairs the degradation of FRQ and compromises its normal circadian expression. A FRQ-independent oscillator drives conidiation in the csn-2 mutant, resulting in a 2-d conidiation rhythm that persists in constant darkness (DD), constant light (LL), light-to-dark (LD) transitions, and temperature cycles. Strikingly, the levels of FWD-1 are drastically reduced in csn-2 mutant, explaining the impaired degradation of FRQ. Reduction of FWD-1 levels in the mutant requires its F-box, suggesting that its degradation is due to autoubiquitination. In addition, SKP-1 and CUL-1 of the SCFFWD-1 complex are also unstable in the mutant. Therefore, our results establish an important role of CSN in the circadian clock of Neurospora. Our findings also reconcile the CSN paradox and suggest that a major function of CSN is to maintain the stability of SCF ubiquitin ligases in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1518-1531
Number of pages14
JournalGenes and Development
Volume19
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2005

Keywords

  • CSN
  • Cullin
  • FLO
  • Frequency
  • Neddylation
  • Proteasome
  • Smith-Magenis syndrome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

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