Abstract
The UGA codon signals protein translation termination, but it can also be translated into selenocysteine (Sec, U) to produce selenocysteine-containing proteins (selenoproteins) by dedicated machinery. As Sec incorporation can fail, Sec-containing longer and Sec-lacking shorter proteins co-exist. Cul2-type ubiquitin ligases were recently shown to destabilize such truncated proteins; however, which ubiquitin ligase targets truncated proteins for degradation remained unclear. We report that the Cul5-type ubiquitin ligase KLHDC1 targets truncated SELENOS, a selenoprotein, for proteasomal degradation. SELENOS is involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation, which is linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the knockdown of KLHDC1 in U2OS cells decreased ER stress-induced cell death. Knockdown of SELENOS increased the cell population with lower ROS levels. Our findings reveal that, in addition to Cul2-type ubiquitin ligases, KLHDC1 is involved in the elimination of truncated oxidoreductase-inactive SELENOS, which would be crucial for maintaining ROS levels and preventing cancer development.