9L93

Crystal structure of NCOA4 in complex with HERC2

Summary for 9L93

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb9l93/pdb
• Descriptor: E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase HERC2, Nuclear receptor coactivator 4, FE2/S2 (INORGANIC) CLUSTER, ... (4 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: ncoa4, herc2, iron-sulfur cluster, ligase
• Biological source: Homo sapiens (human); More
• Total number of polymer chains: 4
• Total formula weight: 48616.60

Authors

Liu, H.B.,Pan, L.F. (deposition date: 2024-12-29, release date: 2025-11-05)

Primary citation

Liu, H.,Shen, L.,Gong, X.,Zhou, X.,Huang, Y.,Zhou, Y.,Guo, Z.,Guo, H.,Wang, S.,Pan, L.
Mechanistic insights into the iron-sulfur cluster-dependent interaction of the autophagy receptor NCOA4 with the E3 ligase HERC2.
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 122:e2510269122-e2510269122, 2025

PubMed Abstract: NCOA4, a dedicated autophagy receptor for mediating selective autophagy of ferritin (ferritinophagy), plays a vital role in maintaining cellular iron homeostasis. The cellular abundance of NCOA4 is regulated by the E3 ligase HERC2 that can specifically target NCOA4 for proteasomal degradation under iron-replete conditions. However, the detailed molecular mechanism governing the iron-dependent recognition of NCOA4 by HERC2 remains elusive. Here, using multidisciplinary approaches, we systematically characterize the HERC2-binding domain (HBD) of NCOA4 and its interaction with HERC2. We uncover that NCOA4 HBD harbors a [2Fe-2S] cluster and can exist in two different states, the -form state and the [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound state. Moreover, we unravel that HERC2 can effectively recognize the [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound NCOA4 HBD through its Cullin-7-PARC-HERC2 (CPH) domain and iron-sulfur cluster-dependent NCOA4-binding domain (INBD) with a synergistic binding mode. The determined crystal structures of HERC2(2540-2700) and its complex with the [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound NCOA4 HBD together with relevant biochemical and cellular results not only elucidate how NCOA4 HBD specifically senses cellular iron level by binding a [2Fe-2S] cluster but also reveal the molecular basis underlying the specific interaction of HERC2 with the [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound NCOA4 HBD. In summary, our findings provide mechanistic insights into the iron-dependent turnover of NCOA4 by HERC2 and expand our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy.

PubMed: 40705422
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2510269122

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (1.73 Å)