Article

  • The EMBO Journal (2000) 19, 5362 - 5375
  • doi:10.1093/emboj/19.20.5362

The F-box protein Skp2 is a ubiquitylation target of a Cul1-based core ubiquitin ligase complex: evidence for a role of Cul1 in the suppression of Skp2 expression in quiescent fibroblasts

Christiane Wirbelauer1, Hedwig Sutterlüty1, Marc Blondel2, Mathias Gstaiger1, Matthias Peter2, Francoise Reymond1 and Wilhelm Krek1

  1. Friedrich Miescher Institut, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
  2. Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Chemin des Boveresses 155, CH-1066 Epalinges/VD, Switzerland

Correspondence to:

Wilhelm Krek, E-mail: wilhelm.krek@fmi.ch

Received 19 April 2000; Accepted 18 August 2000; Revised 10 August 2000


The ubiquitin protein ligase SCFSkp2 is composed of Skp1, Cul1, Roc1/Rbx1 and the F-box protein Skp2, the substrate-recognition subunit. Levels of Skp2 decrease as cells exit the cell cycle and increase as cells re-enter the cycle. Ectopic expression of Skp2 in quiescent fibroblasts causes mitogen-independent S-phase entry. Hence, mechanisms must exist for limiting Skp2 protein expression during the G0/G1 phases. Here we show that Skp2 is degraded by the proteasome in G0/G1 and is stabilized when cells re-enter the cell cycle. Rapid degradation of Skp2 in quiescent cells depends on Skp2 sequences that contribute to Cul1 binding and interference with endogenous Cul1 function in serum-deprived cells induces Skp2 expression. Furthermore, recombinant Cul1–Roc1/Rbx1–Skp1 complexes can catalyse Skp2 ubiquitylation in vitro. These results suggest that degradation of Skp2 in G0/G1 is mediated, at least in part, by an autocatalytic mechanism involving a Skp2-bound Cul1-based core ubiquitin ligase and imply a role for this mechanism in the suppression of SCFSkp2 ubiquitin protein ligase function during the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle.

  • Keywords:

    • cell cycle,
    • cullin,
    • proteasome,
    • Skp2,
    • ubiquitin