URM1 explained

Ubiquitin-related modifier-1 (URM1) is a ubiquitin-like protein that modifies proteins in the yeast ubiquitin-like urmylation pathway.^[1] Structural comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of the ubiquitin superfamily has indicated that Urm1 has the most conserved structural and sequence features of the common ancestor of the entire superfamily.^{[2] [3]}

Urm1 is characterized by a core β-grasp fold and an essential carboxy terminal glycine within a di-glycine motif. Urm1 is known to be conjugated to the peroxiredoxin Ahp1, ATPBD3, and CTU2 and human MOCS3, through a mechanism involving the E1-like protein Uba4 via lysine residues.^[4] Similar to ubiquitination, urmylation requires a thioester intermediate and forms isopeptide bonds between Urm1 and its substrates. Moreover, the urmylation process can be significantly enhanced by oxidative stress.^[5] Functions as a protein tag with roles in nutrient sensing and oxidative stress response.

Recently it has been demonstrated that Urm1 can acts as a sulfur carrier in the thiolation of eukaryotic tRNA via a mechanism that requires the formation of a thiocarboxylated Urm1.^[6] URM1 is involved in thiolation of cytoplasmic tRNAs; receives sulfur from the E1-like enzyme Uba4 and transfers it to tRNA.Sequence and structural homology studies suggest that Urm1 can be more closely linked to the prokaryotic sulphur transfer proteins, ThiS and MoaD, that can be considered as prokaryotic counterparts of the eukaryotic UBls.^[7]

See also

• Ubiquitin

Notes and References

1. Goehring AS, Rivers DM, Sprague GF . Urmylation: a ubiquitin-like pathway that functions during invasive growth and budding in yeast . Molecular Biology of the Cell . 14 . 11 . 4329–41 . November 2003 . 14551258 . 266754 . 10.1091/mbc.E03-02-0079 .
2. Xu J, Zhang J, Wang L, Zhou J, Huang H, Wu J, Zhong Y, Shi Y . Solution structure of Urm1 and its implications for the origin of protein modifiers . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 103 . 31 . 11625–30 . August 2006 . 16864801 . 1518799 . 10.1073/pnas.0604876103 . 2006PNAS..10311625X . free .
3. Goehring AS, Rivers DM, Sprague GF . Urmylation: a ubiquitin-like pathway that functions during invasive growth and budding in yeast . Molecular Biology of the Cell . 14 . 11 . 4329–41 . November 2003 . 14551258 . 266754 . 10.1091/mbc.E03-02-0079 .
4. Van der Veen AG, Schorpp K, Schlieker C, Buti L, Damon JR, Spooner E, Ploegh HL, Jentsch S . Role of the ubiquitin-like protein Urm1 as a noncanonical lysine-directed protein modifier . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 108 . 5 . 1763–70 . February 2011 . 21209336 . 3033243 . 10.1073/pnas.1014402108 . free .
5. Wang F, Liu M, Qiu R, Ji C . The dual role of ubiquitin-like protein Urm1 as a protein modifier and sulfur carrier . Protein & Cell . 2 . 8 . 612–9 . August 2011 . 21904977 . 4875326. 10.1007/s13238-011-1074-6 .
6. Petroski MD, Salvesen GS, Wolf DA . Urm1 couples sulfur transfer to ubiquitin-like protein function in oxidative stress . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 108 . 5 . 1749–50 . February 2011 . 21245332 . 3033263 . 10.1073/pnas.1019043108 . 2011PNAS..108.1749P . free .
7. Pedrioli PG, Leidel S, Hofmann K . Urm1 at the crossroad of modifications. 'Protein Modifications: Beyond the Usual Suspects' Review Series . EMBO Reports . 9 . 12 . 1196–202 . December 2008 . 19047990 . 2603462 . 10.1038/embor.2008.209 .