Structural basis of sugar-recognizing ubiquitin ligase.
Mizushima, T., Hirao, T., Yoshida, Y., Lee, S.J., Chiba, T., Iwai, K., Yamaguchi, Y., Kato, K., Tsukihara, T., Tanaka, K.(2004) Nat Struct Mol Biol 11: 365-370
- PubMed: 14990996 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb732
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1UMH, 1UMI - PubMed Abstract: 
SCF(Fbs1) is a ubiquitin ligase that functions in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation pathway. Fbs1/Fbx2, a member of the F-box proteins, recognizes high-mannose oligosaccharides. Efficient binding to an N-glycan requires di-N-acetylchitobiose (chitobiose). Here we report the crystal structures of the sugar-binding domain (SBD) of Fbs1 alone and in complex with chitobiose. The SBD is composed of a ten-stranded antiparallel beta-sandwich. The structure of the SBD-chitobiose complex includes hydrogen bonds between Fbs1 and chitobiose and insertion of the methyl group of chitobiose into a small hydrophobic pocket of Fbs1. Moreover, NMR spectroscopy has demonstrated that the amino acid residues adjoining the chitobiose-binding site interact with the outer branches of the carbohydrate moiety. Considering that the innermost chitobiose moieties in N-glycans are usually involved in intramolecular interactions with the polypeptide moieties, we propose that Fbs1 interacts with the chitobiose in unfolded N-glycoprotein, pointing the protein moiety toward E2 for ubiquitination.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.