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Insights into phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms regulating USP1 protein stability during the cell cycle

Volume 10, Issue 23   December 1, 2011
Pages 4009 - 4016
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/cc.10.23.18501
Authors: Xiomaris M. Cotto Rios, Mathew J.K. Jones and Tony T. Huang

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Abstract:
Tight regulation of the cell cycle and DNA repair machinery is essential for maintaining genome stability. The APC/CCdh1 ubiquitin ligase complex is a key regulator of protein stability during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. APC/CCdh1 regulates and promotes the degradation of proteins involved in both cell cycle regulation and DNA repair. In a recent study, we identified a novel APC/CCdh1 substrate, the ubiquitin protease USP1. USP1 is a critical regulator of both the Fanconi anemia (FA) and translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA repair pathways. Here, we provide additional mechanistic insights into the regulation of USP1 during the cell cycle. Specifically, we demonstrate that USP1 is phosphorylated in mitosis by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), and that this phosphorylation event may prevent premature degradation of USP1 during normal cell cycle progression. Finally, we provide a unifying hypothesis integrating the role of G1-specific proteolysis of USP1 with the regulation of the transcriptional repressors, Inhibitor of DNA-binding (ID) proteins.

Received: October 18, 2011; Accepted: October 24, 2011

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