Zinc-binding triggers a conformational-switch in the cullin-3 substrate adaptor protein KEAP1 that controls transcription factor NRF2.

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) is a cullin-3 (Cul3)-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL) adaptor/scaffold protein that enables cells to adapt to environmental stressors because modification of certain of its Cys residues initiates de-repression of the NF-E2 p45-related factor-2 (Nrf2) transcription factor. Thus, in normal unstressed cells, the cytoprotective Nrf2 is continuously ubiquitylated by CRL^Keap1, thereby ensuring that Nrf2 is efficiently degraded by the proteasome and expression of Nrf2 target genes restricted. By contrast, this process is attenuated in stressed cells, allowing Nrf2 protein to accumulate in the nucleus and induce genes that promote cell survival. It remains unclear how Keap1 senses stress. Previously, we suggested that release of free Zn²⁺ from damaged proteins represents an endogenous 'danger' signal recognized by Keap1. However, the existence of a Zn²⁺ sensor in Keap1 is not widely acknowledged. We now present data that support the hypothesis that Keap1 directly senses Zn²⁺ through a cluster of amino-acids that include His-225, Cys-226, and Cys-613. We show that this mechanism does not require p62/sequestosome-1, an autophagy adaptor protein implicated in metal(loid) sensing by Keap1. Moreover, using a genetically-encoded FRET reporter, we present evidence that binding of Zn²⁺ triggers a conformational switch in Keap1. The altered conformation of Keap1 is envisaged to perturb the architecture of CRL^Keap1, such that bound Nrf2 becomes mis-aligned with respect to the ubiquitin-charged E2 enzyme. These data are consistent with the notion that Keap1 possesses a Zn²⁺ sensor whose triggering distorts its structure in a fashion that inhibits ubiquitylation of Nrf2 upon CRL^Keap1.

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