A MAGEL2-deubiquitinase complex modulates the ubiquitination of circadian rhythm protein CRY1

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 21;15(4):e0230874. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230874. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

MAGEL2 encodes the L2 member of the MAGE (melanoma antigen) protein family. Protein truncating mutations in MAGEL2 cause Schaaf-Yang syndrome, and MAGEL2 is one of a small set of genes deleted in Prader-Willi syndrome. Excessive daytime sleepiness, night-time or early morning waking, and narcoleptic symptoms are seen in people with Prader-Willi syndrome and Schaaf-Yang syndrome, while mice carrying a gene-targeted Magel2 deletion have disrupted circadian rhythms. These phenotypes suggest that MAGEL2 is important for the robustness of the circadian rhythm. However, a cellular role for MAGEL2 has yet to be elucidated. MAGEL2 influences the ubiquitination of substrate proteins to target them for further modification or to alter their stability through proteasomal degradation pathways. Here, we characterized relationships among MAGEL2 and proteins that regulate circadian rhythm. The effect of MAGEL2 on the key circadian rhythm protein cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) was assessed using in vivo proximity labelling (BioID), immunofluorescence microscopy and ubiquitination assays. We demonstrate that MAGEL2 modulates the ubiquitination of CRY1. Further studies will clarify the cellular role MAGEL2 normally plays in circadian rhythm, in part through ubiquitination and regulation of stability of the CRY1 protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Cryptochromes / metabolism*
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7 / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cry1 protein, mouse
  • Cryptochromes
  • Magel2 protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Discovery Grant SFR1451 to RW). KVC was supported by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation through a Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Graduate Studentship and by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta through the 75th Anniversary Graduate Student Award. MZ and AS were funded by Office of the Provost and VP (Academic) Summer Research Awards (University of Alberta). The funders did not play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.