The Not4 ubiquitin ligase utilizes its conserved RNA binding domains to regulate global proteostasis and RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription

The conserved Ccr4-Not complex regulates all aspects of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) gene expression pathway, while it also controls proteasome assembly and function. The Not4 RING domain ubiquitin ligase is a core subunit that also contains an RNA recognition motif (RRM) and C3H1 domain (collectively referred to as the RRM-C) whose function is unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that the Not4 RRM-C contributes to both Not4-dependent regulation of the proteasome and Pol II. Disruption of both Not4 ligase activity and the RRM-C domain simultaneously replicates the proteasome-dependent deubiquitylation and catalytic activity misregulation found in Not4-deficient cells. Transcriptome analysis reveals that the Not4 RRM-C affects a subset of Pol II-dependent genes involved in specific biological functions, including transcription elongation, cyclin-dependent kinase regulated nutrient responses, and ribosomal biogenesis. At these genes, the Not4 RRM-C negatively regulates Pol II binding. While Not4 RRM-C disruption modestly increases between Ccr4-Not and Pol II, a Not4 ligase mutant decreases Ccr4-Not association with Pol II, thus implicating Not4-dependent ubiquitylation in mediating Ccr4-Not interaction with Pol II. Collectively, our results suggests the cellular RNA environment may integrate control of global proteostasis and Pol II transcription through the Not4 ubiquitin ligase. Overall design: There are two conditions analyzed in this study (cells expressing Not4WT or Not4RRM) with three replicates per condition.

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Chen H, Sirupangi T, Wu ZH, Johnson DL, Laribee RN