Aha1 Is an Autonomous Chaperone for SULT1A1.

The cochaperone Aha1 activates HSP90 ATPase to promote the folding of its client proteins; however, very few client proteins of Aha1 are known. With the use of an ascorbate peroxidase (APEX)-based proximity labeling method, we identified SULT1A1 as a proximity protein of HSP90 that is modulated by genetic depletion of Aha1. Immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot analysis showed the interaction of SULT1A1 with Aha1, but not HSP90. We also observed a reduced level of SULT1A1 protein upon genetic depletion of Aha1 but not upon pharmacological inhibition of HSP90, suggesting that the SULT1A1 protein level is regulated by Aha1 alone. Maturation-dependent interaction assay results showed that Aha1, but not HSP90, binds preferentially to newly synthesized SULT1A1. Reconstitution of Aha1-depleted cells with wild-type Aha1 and its E67K mutant, which is deficient in interacting with HSP90, restored SULT1A1 protein to the same level. Nonetheless, complementation of Aha1-depleted cells with an Aha1 mutant lacking the first 20 amino acids, which disrupts its autonomous chaperone function, was unable to rescue the SULT1A1 protein level. Together, our study revealed, for the first time, Aha1 as an autonomous chaperone in regulating SULT1A1. SULT1A1 is a phase-II metabolic enzyme, where it adds sulfate groups to hydroxyl functionalities in endogenous hormones and xenobiotic chemicals to improve their solubilities and promote their excretion. Thus, our work suggests the role of Aha1 cochaperone in modulating the detoxification of endogenous and environmental chemicals.