Characterization of the Escherichia coli ClpY (HslU) substrate recognition site in the ClpYQ (HslUV) protease using the yeast two-hybrid system.

In Escherichia coli, ClpYQ (HslUV) is a two-component ATP-dependent protease in which ClpQ is the peptidase subunit and ClpY is the ATPase and the substrate-binding subunit. The ATP-dependent proteolysis is mediated by substrate recognition in the ClpYQ complex. ClpY has three domains, N, I, and C, and these domains are discrete and exhibit different binding preferences.