Autoubiquitination of the BRCA1·BARD1 RING ubiquitin ligase

Abstract

The RING finger of BRCA1 confers ubiquitin ligase activity that is markedly enhanced when complexed with another RING-containing protein, BARD1, and is required for the function of this tumor suppressor protein in protecting genomic integrity. Here, we report that co-expression of BRCA1-(1-639) and BARD1 in bacteria can assemble a potent ubiquitin ligase activity. Purified BRCA1-(1-639)·BARD1 stimulated the Ubc5c-mediated monoubiquitination of histone H2A/H2AX in vitro, suggesting a possible role for BRCA1·BARD1 in modifying chromatin structure. Moreover, the truncated BRCA1·BARD1 complex exhibited efficient autoubiquitination activity in vitro capable of assembling non-lysine 48-linked polyubiquitin chains on both BRCA1-(1-639) and BARD1. When co-expressed in cells by transient transfection, the recombinant BRCA1-(1-300)·BARD1 complex was found to be associated with polyubiquitin chains, suggesting that BRCA1-(1-300)·BARD1 was ubiquitinated in vivo as well. These results raise the possibility that BRCA1·BARD1 acts to assemble non-lysine 48-linked polyubiquitin chains that may serve as part of a signaling platform required for coordinating DNA repair-related events.