A ubiquitin-interacting motif protects polyubiquitinated Met4 from degradation by the 26S proteasome

Covalent attachment of ubiquitin to proteins regulates a host of cellular events by proteolysis dependent and independent mechanisms. A variety of protein domains that bind noncovalently to ubiquitin have been described and functionally linked to diverse cellular processes(1). Overall, however, the understanding and knowledge of the mechanisms by which ubiquitin-binding domains (UBDs) regulate these processes is limited. Here, we describe identification of a UBD in the yeast transcription factor Met4. Met4 activity, but not its stability, is regulated by polyubiquitination(2-4). We found that the UBD restricts the length of the polyubiquitin chain that is assembled on Met4, and prevents proteasomal recognition and degradation of polyubiquitinated Met4. Inactivation of the UBD allowed synthesis of longer ubiquitin chains on Met4 and transformed the normally stable polyubiquitinated Met4 into a short-lived protein. Our results demonstrate a function for UBDs in ubiquitin-chain synthesis and regulation of protein degradation.