Cited by 207Ubiquitin and proteasome pathwaysCellular transport and secretionAutophagy in Disease and Therapy

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 56 of the 56 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 26 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Essential Role of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 8 for Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Stability and Endocytic Trafficking In Vivo

Open access

Abstract

Posttranslational modification by ubiquitin controls multiple cellular functions and is counteracted by the activities of deubiquitinating enzymes. UBPy (USP8) is a growth-regulated ubiquitin isopeptidase that interacts with the HRS-STAM complex. Using Cre-loxP-mediated gene targeting in mice, we show that lack of UBPy results in embryonic lethality, whereas its conditional inactivation in adults causes fatal liver failure. The defect is accompanied by a strong reduction or absence of several growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), like epidermal growth factor receptor, hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-met), and ERBB3. UBPy-deficient cells exhibit aberrantly enlarged early endosomes colocalizing with enhanced ubiquitination and have reduced levels of HRS and STAM2. Congruently immortalized cells gradually stop proliferation upon induced deletion of UBPy. These results unveil a central and nonredundant role of UBPy in growth regulation, endosomal sorting, and the control of RTKs in vivo.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

UBPy (USP8) is essential in vivo: constitutive deletion causes embryonic lethality, while induced deletion in adult mice causes fatal liver failure. UBPy maintains receptor tyrosine kinase protein levels and endocytic trafficking, at least in part by counteracting ubiquitination and stabilizing the HRS-STAM complex.

Key findings

  • Heterozygote intercrosses yielded 13 UBPy+/+ (27.7%) and 34 UBPy+/− (72.3%) animals but no UBPy−/− mice; E9.5 mutant embryos were growth retarded and disorganized. Adult induced deletion caused death 4 to 6 days after poly(I:C), with severe liver failure, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated liver enzymes.
  • Immortalized UBPy-deficient MEFs stopped growing 6 to 8 days after tamoxifen-induced deletion, with severely reduced BrdU incorporation but no enhanced apoptosis/TUNEL in MEFs; in contrast, hepatocytes showed apoptosis.
  • Loss of UBPy strongly reduced or eliminated RTKs: EGFR, c-met, and ERBB3 were decreased/absent in liver extracts, and EGFR was strongly reduced in cells; EGFR mRNA did not differ significantly, and EGF-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation was impaired, while STAT1 phosphorylation was unaffected.
  • UBPy-deficient cells showed enlarged EEA1-positive early endosomes, accumulated multivesicular bodies, reduced/absent HRS and STAM2, and enhanced ubiquitinated substrates colocalizing with enlarged endosomes; proteasomal activity was not impaired and free ubiquitin levels were unchanged, while ALIX and TSG101 were unaffected.

Methods

  • Conditional Cre-loxP UBPy mice were generated by flanking exon IV with loxP sites; germline deletion used EIIa-Cre, and adult inducible deletion used MX-Cre with poly(I:C). Embryos were from heterozygous matings.
  • Immortalized UBPy fl/fl MEFs expressing Cre-ERT2 were used for tamoxifen-inducible deletion; analyses included immunoblotting, Southern/Northern blotting, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, BrdU incorporation, TUNEL, liver plasma analysis, and proteasome activity assays.
  • EGF stimulation was performed after serum starvation with 100 ng/ml EGF; data are means ± standard errors of the mean, with statistical differences determined by Student’s t test.

Limitations

  • The paper states that because of the severe liver phenotype and early death, cell-type-specific inactivation will be necessary to define the physiological relevance in other organs or cell types, and that detailed mechanisms leading to RTK reduction need to be defined.
  • The paper notes that MX-Cre-mediated deletion is generally fastest and most efficient in the liver, which most likely explains why the phenotype manifests there although UBPy is also expressed in other cell types.
  • Evident from the text: constitutive UBPy loss is embryonic lethal, limiting analysis of adult constitutive deletion; much mechanistic work relies on an immortalized MEF line and induced deletion, and the proposal that UBPy has two independent functions in RTK degradation is presented as a model.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1128/mcb.01566-06

Cites

56 of 56 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 26 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    UBPy-deficient fibroblasts underwent growth arrest.

    “The observation that UBPy-deficient fibroblasts underwent growth arrest”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “Impaired proliferation and growth arrest of immortalized cells upon deletion of UBPy.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Lack of UBPy does not affect STAT-1 phosphorylation upon alpha/beta interferon induction.

    “the lack of UBPy did not affect STAT-1 phosphorylation upon alpha/beta interferon induction”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Enhanced ubiquitination colocalized with enlarged early endosomes in UBPy-deficient cells.

    “As shown in Fig. 7D, enhanced ubiquitination colocalized with the enlarged early endosomes”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Histological analysis of liver sections revealed pathological changes starting 4 days after poly(I:C) administration, manifested by apoptotic hepatocytes around the central vein.

    “Histological analysis of liver sections revealed that pathological changes started 4 days after the administration of poly(I ⅐ C), as manifested by apoptotic hepatocytes (Councilman bodies) around the central vein (Fig. 3A).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    ΔUBPy cells show accumulation of ubiquitinated substrates colocalizing with enlarged early endosomes.

    “⌬UBPy cells show accumulation of ubiquitinated substrates colocalizing with enlarged early endosomes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 9
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 15
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The authors may not put it forward as true. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Conditional inactivation of UBPy in adult mice causes fatal liver failure.

    “Together, the data provide strong evidence that the death of ⌬UBPy mice is caused by a severe liver failure.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Poly(I:C) administration alone does not cause the lethal liver failure observed in ΔUBPy mice.
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Growth arrest in ΔUBPy MEFs was not accompanied by reduced cell viability or enhanced apoptosis.

    “this was not accompanied by reduced cell viability or enhanced apoptosis, as cell numbers did not drop for a period of more than 10 days after growth arrest and the percentage of ⌬UBPy cells staining positive in a TUNEL assay was similar to that of undeleted cells”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Liver injury in UBPy-deficient mice is confirmed by strongly increased serum concentrations of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase, accompanied by higher alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase, as well as glutaraldehyde dehydrogenase levels.

    “Liver injury in mice lacking UBPy was further confirmed by strongly increased serum concentrations of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase and was accompanied by higher alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase, as well as glutaraldehyde dehydrogenase levels (Fig. 2B).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    UBPy-/- animals were extremely developmentally retarded and exhibited completely disorganized morphology at day 9.5.

    “UBPy Ϫ/Ϫ animals were extremely developmentally retarded and exhibited completely disorganized morphology at that time point.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    In liver extracts from ΔUBPy mice, c-met, EGFR, and ERBB3 protein levels were strongly decreased or below detection, whereas α-integrin and β-catenin levels were unchanged.

    “c-met, EGFR, and ERBB3 protein levels in ⌬UBPy livers were strongly decreased (c-met) or even below detection levels (EGFR and ERBB3), whereas levels of ␣-integrin and ␤-catenin were unchanged.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Lack of UBPy causes enlargement of early endosomes, accumulation of MVBs, and reduction of HRS and STAM2 in cells.

    “Enlargement of early endosomes, accumulation of MVBs, and reduction of HRS and STAM2 in cells lacking UBPy.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    STAM2 together with Hrs plays a regulatory role in endocytic trafficking of growth factor receptor complexes through early endosomes.

    “STAM2 (Hbp), together with Hrs, plays a regulatory role in endocytic trafficking of growth factor receptor complexes through early endosomes (4).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [4] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Besides stabilization of HRS, UBPy is essential for embryonic growth.

    “This shows that besides the stabilization of HRS, UBPy is essential for embryonic growth.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    CYLD has an essential role in T-cell development.

    “Analysis of these mice instead demonstrated an essential role for CYLD in T-cell development (47)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [47] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    UBPy plays a central and nonredundant role in growth regulation, endosomal sorting, and the control of RTKs in vivo.

    “These results unveil a central and nonredundant role of UBPy in growth regulation, endosomal sorting, and the control of RTKs in vivo.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Poly(I:C) administration alone does not cause the lethal liver failure observed in ΔUBPy mice.
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    UBPy protein levels decrease when cells undergo growth arrest by contact inhibition.

    “Protein levels of UBPy decrease, when cells undergo growth arrest by contact inhibition, suggesting a possible role in the control of mammalian-cell proliferation (40).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [40] source
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    UBPy is a growth-regulated ubiquitin isopeptidase that accumulates upon growth stimulation.

    “USP8 (UBPy/HUMORF8) was first described as a growthregulated ubiquitin isopeptidase that accumulates upon growth stimulation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [40] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    HRS-deficient embryos were often as large as wt controls and even had beating hearts by day 9.5.

    “while HRS-deficient embryos were often as large as wt controls and even had beating hearts by day 9.5 (27)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [27] source
  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Upon ligand stimulation, RTKs undergo ubiquitin-mediated internalization leading to degradation via the endosomal-lysosomal pathway.

    “It is well documented that upon ligand stimulation RTKs undergo ubiquitin-mediated internalization leading to degradation via the endosomal-lysosomal pathway (13,39).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [13] source
    • cites [39] source
  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Ligand binding induces ubiquitination as a signal to internalize the receptor via endocytosis for several RTKs.

    “As a common feature of several RTKs, ligand binding induces ubiquitination as a signal to internalize the receptor via endocytosis (15).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [15] source
  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    HRS binds directly to ubiquitinated proteins, which are then sorted to clathrin-coated microdomains while nonubiquitinated receptors, like transferrin or LDL receptor, are rapidly recycled to the cell surface.

    “HRS binds directly to ubiquitinated proteins, which are then sorted to clathrin-coated microdomains while nonubiquitinated receptors, like transferrin or LDL receptor, are rapidly recycled to the cell surface (45).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [45] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    HRS-deficient murine cells and drosophila HRS-/- mutant larvae exhibit endosomal enlargement.

    “as HRS-deficient murine cells and drosophila HRS Ϫ/Ϫ mutant larvae (27,34) were also reported to exhibit this phenotype.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [27] source
    • cites [34] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    UBPy exerts two independent functions in the RTK degradation pathway: directly counteracting RTK internalization and stabilizing the HRS-STAM complex.

    “The results suggest that UBPy exerts two independent functions in the RTK degradation pathway, first by directly counteracting RTK internalization and second by stabilizing the HRS-STAM complex.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: UBPy functions as a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB).
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationcitation

    Pathology in the liver can most likely be attributed to the combined effects of disturbed endosomal function, loss of several RTKs, and disturbed liver regeneration caused by the absence of c-met.

    “Pathology in the liver can most likely be attributed to the combined effects of disturbed endosomal function, loss of several RTKs, and disturbed liver regeneration caused by the absence of c-met”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [6] source
    • cites [20] source
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    HRS is tyrosine phosphorylated upon stimulation with hepatocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and epidermal growth factor.

    “As HRS itself was identified as a protein that is tyrosine phosphorylated upon stimulation with hepatocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and epidermal growth factor (26)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    UBPy directly interacts with EGFR resulting in EGFR deubiquitination.

    “This is supported by results from Mizuno et al., who described a direct interaction of UBPy and the EGFR resulting in EGFR deubiquitination (38).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [38] source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    UBPy counteracts ubiquitination of RTKs or components of the endocytic machinery and thus regulates thresholds for the internalization of growth factor receptors.

    “The results are compatible with a model in which UBPy counteracts ubiquitination of RTKs or components of the endocytic machinery and thus regulates thresholds for the internalization of growth factor receptors.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: UBPy functions as a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB).
22 of 22
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Poly(I:C) administration alone does not cause the lethal liver failure observed in ΔUBPy mice.

    “Mutant mice with the induced deletion of UBPy (⌬UBPy mice) died 4 to 6 days after the administration of poly(I ⅐ C)”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    UBPy functions as a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB).

    “Consistent with the function of UBPy as a DUB”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    UBPy is expressed in other cell types.

    “although UBPy is also expressed in other cell types.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    MVB maturation is a prerequisite of RTK degradation via the lysosomal pathway.

    “a prerequisite of RTK degradation via the lysosomal pathway.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Mutant mice reported dead before day-7 sampling

    Major

    The results state that mice with induced UBPy deletion died 4 to 6 days after poly(I 1⁄7 C) administration, but the Figure 2 caption says plasma was collected from 12 such mice seven days after induction.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Feil R., 1997, Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol., 355, 41
  2. Huang T. T., 2006, Nat. Cell Biol., 8, 3309
  3. Schumann G., 2002, Clin. Chem. Lab. Med., 40, 725
  4. Williams D. A., 2000, Blood, 96, 1646

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Metadata

Authors
Niendorf, S., Oksche, A., Kisser, A., Löhler, J., Prinz, M., Schorle, H., Feller, S., Lewitzky, M., Horak, I., & Knobeloch, K.-P.
Affiliations
  • Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (DE)
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
  • Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) (DE)
  • University of Göttingen (DE)
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • Cancer Research UK (GB)
Venue
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Published
2007-07-01
Volume
27
Issue
13
Pages
5029-5039
ISSN
  • 0270-7306 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-5549
OpenAlex
W2069862324
Cited by
207
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 10
FWCI
4.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion)
  • GRO (submittedVersion)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
Keywords
USP8, receptor tyrosine kinase, receptor stability, endosomal trafficking, STAM2, early endosomes, ubiquitination, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-Met, HER3, liver failure, embryonic lethality, growth regulation, cell proliferation
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Line, Transformed, Death, Embryo, Mammalian, Endocytosis, Enzyme Stability, Fibroblasts, Humans, Liver, Endopeptidases, Endosomes, Mutagenesis, Gene Deletion, Gene Targeting, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Receptor, ErbB-3, Ubiquitin, Ubiquitin Thiolesterase, Multiprotein Complexes, Cell Proliferation, Mice, Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport, ErbB Receptors

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