Cyclisation of Lys48-linked diubiquitin in vitro and in vivo.

Ubiquitin (Ub) is able to form polymeric isopeptide-linked chains through condensation of any of its seven lysine (Lys) residues with the C-terminus of an adjacent Ub monomer. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) of commercial in vitro-generated Lys48-linked di-Ub (Lys48-Ub(2)) revealed a major population of cyclised dimer. The absence of a free C-terminus in this population was confirmed by an inability to bind the zinc finger ubiquitin-binding domain (ZnF-UBP) of USP5/isopeptidase-T.

Probing affinity and ubiquitin linkage selectivity of ubiquitin-binding domains using mass spectrometry.

Non-covalent interactions between ubiquitin (Ub)-modified substrates and Ub-binding domains (UBDs) are fundamental to signal transduction by Ub receptor proteins. Poly-Ub chains, linked through isopeptide bonds between internal Lys residues and the C-terminus of Ub, can be assembled with varied topologies to mediate different cellular processes. We have developed and applied a rapid and sensitive electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method to determine isopeptide linkage-selectivity and affinity of poly-Ub·UBD interactions.