Multiple Forms of Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase. Binding of Activated Ubiquitin to Protein Substrates

Enzyme activities that catalyzed the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to protein substrates (ubiquitin-protein ligase, UbL) were purified from the extracts of human red blood cells. These activities required the presence of ubiquitin-activating enzyme and ATP for activity. Four fractions (UbL A, B₁B₂, and C) were resolved and showed different specificities toward added substrates [carboxymethylated bovine serum albumin (CM-BSA), G-actin, lysozyme, and α-lactalbumin]. The enzyme fractions gave different products with a given substrate. UbL A and UbL B₁ were exclusively active with CM-BSA and a-lactalbumin, respectively. UbL B₂ was most active toward CM-BSA with substantial activities to G-actin and a-lactalbumin and with no activity to lysozyme. UbL C showed significant activities with all four substrates, having a highest activity toward CM-BSA. There were many endogenous proteins present in the erythrocyte extract which were efficient substrates for ubiquitin conjugation. In particular, a pair of substrates were identified from eythrocyte extracts which were far more efficient substrates than the denatured proteins exogenously added.