The Proapoptotic F-box Protein Fbxl7 Regulates Mitochondrial Function by Mediating the Ubiquitylation and Proteasomal Degradation of Survivin*

Background: The SCF ubiquitin E3 ligase component Fbxl7 possesses proapoptotic activity. Results: Fbxl7 targets the antiapoptotic protein survivin for polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Conclusion: Survivin protects mitochondria from damage induced by Fbxl7. Significance: Understanding how F-box proteins regulate survivin might impact therapies to preserve cellular bioenergetics. Fbxl7, a component of the Skp1·Cul1·F-box protein type ubiquitin E3 ligase, regulates mitotic cell cycle progression. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of Fbxl7 in lung epithelia decreases the protein abundance of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family. Fbxl7 mediates polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of survivin by interacting with Glu-126 within its carboxyl-terminal α helix. Furthermore, both Lys-90 and Lys-91 within survivin serve as ubiquitin acceptor sites. Ectopically expressed Fbxl7 impairs mitochondrial function, whereas depletion of Fbxl7 protects mitochondria from actions of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. Compared with wild-type survivin, cellular expression of a survivin mutant protein deficient in its ability to interact with Fbxl7 (E126A) and a ubiquitylation-resistant double point mutant (KK90RR/KK91RR) rescued mitochondria to a larger extent from damage induced by overexpression of Fbxl7. Therefore, these data suggest that the Skp1·Cul1·F-box protein complex subunit Fbxl7 modulates mitochondrial function by controlling the cellular abundance of survivin. The results raise opportunities for F-box protein targeting to preserve mitochondrial function.