Biochemical insights into Paf1 complex–induced stimulation of Rad6/Bre1-mediated H2B monoubiquitination

The highly conserved multifunctional polymerase-associated factor 1 (Paf1) complex (PAF1C), composed of five core subunits Paf1, Leo1, Ctr9, Cdc73, and Rtf1, participates in all stages of transcription and is required for the Rad6/Bre1-mediated monoubiquitination of histone H2B (H2Bub). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the contributions of the PAF1C subunits to H2Bub are not fully understood. Here, we report that Ctr9, acting as a hub, interacts with the carboxyl-terminal acidic tail of Rad6, which is required for PAF1C-induced stimulation of H2Bub. Importantly, we found that the Ras-like domain of Cdc73 has the potential to accelerate ubiquitin discharge from Rad6 and thus facilitates H2Bub, a process that might be conserved from yeast to humans. Moreover, we found that Rtf1 HMD stimulates H2Bub, probably through accelerating ubiquitin discharge from Rad6 alone or in cooperation with Cdc73 and Bre1, and that the Paf1/Leo1 heterodimer in PAF1C specifically recognizes the histone H3 tail of nucleosomal substrates, stimulating H2Bub. Collectively, our biochemical results indicate that intact PAF1C is required to efficiently stimulate Rad6/Bre1-mediated H2Bub.