Nitrosylation of ISG15 prevents the disulfide bond-mediated dimerization of ISG15 and contributes to effective ISGylation

J Biol Chem. 2008 Sep 5;283(36):24484-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M803795200. Epub 2008 Jul 7.

Abstract

The expression of the ubiquitin-like molecule ISG15 (UCRP) and protein modification by ISG15 (ISGylation) are strongly activated by interferon, genotoxic stress, and pathogen infection, suggesting that ISG15 plays an important role in innate immune responses. Inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) is induced by the similar stimuli as ISG15 and enhances the production of nitric oxide (NO), a pleiotropic free radical with antipathogen activity. Here, we report that cysteine residues (Cys-76 and -143 in mouse, Cys-78 in human) of ISG15 can be modified by NO, and the NO modification of ISG15 decreases the dimerization of ISG15. The mutation of the cysteine residue of ISG15 to serine improves total ISGylation. The NO synthase inhibitor S-ethylisothiourea reduces endogenous ISGylation. Furthermore, ectopic expression of iNOS enhanced total ISGylation. Together, these results suggest that nitrosylation of ISG15 enhances target protein ISGylation. This is the first report of a relationship between ISGylation and nitrosylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dimerization
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Nitric Oxide / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / immunology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational* / genetics
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational* / immunology
  • Ubiquitins / genetics
  • Ubiquitins / immunology
  • Ubiquitins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • G1p2 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitins
  • Nitric Oxide
  • ISG15 protein, human
  • NOS2 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse