Multisite phosphorylation of human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 enhances Its gp78- and CHIP-mediated ubiquitination: a pivotal role of its Ser-478 residue in the gp78-catalyzed reaction

Mol Cell Proteomics. 2012 Feb;11(2):M111.010132. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M111.010132. Epub 2011 Nov 17.

Abstract

CYP3A4, an integral endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored protein, is the major human liver cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for the disposition of over 50% of clinically relevant drugs. Alterations of its protein turnover can influence drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, and the bioavailability of chemotherapeutic drugs. Such CYP3A4 turnover occurs via a classical ER-associated degradation (ERAD) process involving ubiquitination by both UBC7/gp78 and UbcH5a/CHIP E2-E3 complexes for 26 S proteasomal targeting. These E3 ligases act sequentially and cooperatively in CYP3A4 ERAD because RNA interference knockdown of each in cultured hepatocytes results in the stabilization of a functionally active enzyme. We have documented that UBC7/gp78-mediated CYP3A4 ubiquitination requires protein phosphorylation by protein kinase (PK) A and PKC and identified three residues (Ser-478, Thr-264, and Ser-420) whose phosphorylation is required for intracellular CYP3A4 ERAD. We document herein that of these, Ser-478 plays a pivotal role in UBC7/gp78-mediated CYP3A4 ubiquitination, which is accelerated and enhanced on its mutation to the phosphomimetic Asp residue but attenuated on its Ala mutation. Intriguingly, CYP3A5, a polymorphically expressed human liver CYP3A4 isoform (containing Asp-478) is ubiquitinated but not degraded to a greater extent than CYP3A4 in HepG2 cells. This suggests that although Ser-478 phosphorylation is essential for UBC7/gp78-mediated CYP3A4 ubiquitination, it is not sufficient for its ERAD. Additionally, we now report that CYP3A4 protein phosphorylation by PKA and/or PKC at sites other than Ser-478, Thr-264, and Ser-420 also enhances UbcH5a/CHIP-mediated ubiquitination. Through proteomic analyses, we identify (i) 12 additional phosphorylation sites that may be involved in CHIP-CYP3A4 interactions and (ii) 8 previously unidentified CYP3A4 ubiquitination sites within spatially associated clusters of Asp/Glu and phosphorylatable Ser/Thr residues that may serve to engage each E2-E3 complex. Collectively, our findings underscore the interplay between protein phosphorylation and ubiquitination in ERAD and, to our knowledge, provide the very first example of gp78 substrate recognition via protein phosphorylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Proteomics
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor / metabolism*
  • Serine / chemistry*
  • Serine / genetics
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Ubiquitin
  • Serine
  • CYP3A5 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • CYP3A4 protein, human
  • UBE2D1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • AMFR protein, human
  • Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor
  • STUB1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Protein Kinase C