Regulation of Drosophila IAP1 degradation and apoptosis by reaper and ubcD1

Cell death in higher organisms is negatively regulated by Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs), which contain a ubiquitin ligase motif, but how ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is regulated during apoptosis is poorly understood. Here, we report that Drosophila melanogaster IAP1 (DIAP1) auto-ubiquitination and degradation is actively regulated by Reaper (Rpr) and UBCD1. We show that Rpr, but not Hid (head involution defective), promotes significant DIAP1 degradation. Rpr-mediated DIAP1 degradation requires an intact DIAP1 RING domain. Among the mutations affecting ubiquitination, we found ubcD1, which suppresses rpr-induced apoptosis. UBCD1 and Rpr specifically bind to DIAP1 and stimulate DIAP1 auto-ubiquitination in vitro. Our results identify a novel function of Rpr in stimulating DIAP1 auto-ubiquitination through UBCD1, thereby promoting its degradation.