Crystal Structure of p97-N/D1 Hexamer Complexed with FAF1 UBX Domain

Abstract

p97, a universally conserved AAA+ ATPase, holds a central position in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, orchestrating myriad cellular activities with significant therapeutic implications. This protein primarily interacts with a diverse set of adaptor proteins through its N-terminal domain (NTD), which is structurally located at the periphery of the D1 hexamer ring. While there have been numerous structural elucidations of p97 complexed with adaptor proteins, the stoichiometry has remained elusive. In this work, we present the crystal structure of the p97-N/D1 hexamer bound to the FAF1-UBX domain at a resolution of 3.1 Å. Our findings reveal a 6:6 stoichiometry between the p97 hexamer and FAF1-UBX domain, deepening our understanding from preceding structural studies related to p97-NTD and UBX domain-containing proteins. These insights lay the groundwork for potential therapeutic interventions addressing cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.