Ubiquitylation of epsilon-COP by PIRH2 and regulation of the secretion of PSA

Ubiquitylation appears to be involved in the membrane trafficking system including endocytosis, exocytosis, and ER-to-Golgi transport. We found that PIRH2, which was identified as an interacting protein for androgen receptor or p53, interacts with and ubiquitylates the epsilon-subunit of coatmer complex, epsilon-COP. PIRH2 promotes the ubiquitylation of epsilon-COP in vitro and in vivo and consequently promotes the degradation of epsilon-COP. The interaction between PIRH2 and epsilon-COP is affected by the presence of androgen, and PIRH2 in the presence of androgen promotes ubiquitylation of epsilon-COP in vivo. Furthermore, overexpression of the wild type of PIRH2 in prostate cancer cells causes downregulation of the secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a secretory protein in prostate epithelial cells and one of diagnostic markers for prostate cancer. Our results indicate that PIRH2 functions as a regulator for COP I complex.