Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40691134›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Allosteric activation of the SPRTN protease by ubiquitin maintains genome stability.

Sophie Dürauer, Hyun-Seo Kang, Christian Wiebeler, Yuka Machida, Dina S Schnapka, Denitsa Yaneva, Christian Renz, Maximilian J Götz, Pedro Weickert, Abigail C Major and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Sophie DürauerGene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Hyun-Seo KangInstitute of Structural Biology, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4029-5096
Christian WiebelerInstitute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1286-0860
Yuka MachidaDevelopmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Dina S SchnapkaGene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Denitsa YanevaGene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Christian RenzInstitute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3164-3597
Maximilian J GötzGene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Pedro WeickertGene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Abigail C MajorInstitute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
Aldwin S RahmantoInstitute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.
Sophie M Gutenthaler-TietzeChair of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8412-3328
Lena J DaumannChair of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2197-136X
Petra BeliInstitute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.
Helle D UlrichInstitute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0431-2223
Michael SattlerInstitute of Structural Biology, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.
Yuichi J MachidaDevelopmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1414-0568
Nadine SchwierzInstitute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
Julian StingeleGene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. stingele@genzentrum.lmu.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6020-2075

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) 393547839 - SFB 1361EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) 801750
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The DNA-dependent protease SPRTN maintains genome stability by degrading toxic DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs). To understand how SPRTN's promiscuous protease activity is confined to cleavage of crosslinked proteins, we reconstitute the repair of DPCs including their modification with SUMO and ubiquitin chains in vitro. We discover that DPC ubiquitylation strongly activates SPRTN independently of SPRTN's known ubiquitin-binding domains. Using protein structure prediction, MD simulations and NMR spectroscopy we reveal that ubiquitin binds to SPRTN's protease domain, promoting an open, active conformation. Replacing key interfacial residues prevents allosteric activation of SPRTN by ubiquitin, leading to genomic instability and cell cycle defects in cells expressing truncated SPRTN variants that cause premature aging and liver cancer in Ruijs-Aalfs syndrome patients. Collectively, our results reveal a ubiquitin-dependent regulatory mechanism that ensures SPRTN activity is deployed precisely when and where it is needed.

Indexed as

DNA-Binding ProteinsGenomic InstabilityUbiquitinAllosteric RegulationDNADNA RepairHEK293 CellsHumansMolecular Dynamics SimulationProtein BindingUbiquitinationDNADNA-Binding ProteinsSPRTN protein, humanUbiquitin

Identifiers

PMID40691134
PMCPMC12279946

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.