Isolation and Characterization of RNA Aptamers against a Proteasome-Associated Deubiquitylating Enzyme UCH37

Deubiquitylating (DUB) enzymes antagonize ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation both before and after the substrates are engaged with proteasomes. UCH37 is one of three proteasome-associated DUB enzymes in mammals and the only protease among them from the ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase (UCH) family. Here, we report the identification of specific RNA aptamers for UCH37 through in vitro selection, and we describe their inhibitory effects on the DUB activity of UCH37. The RNA aptamers significantly delayed RPN13-mediated UCH37 activation and lowered total DUB activity of proteasomes, as measured by the hydrolysis of ubiquitin-rhodamine 110. In addition, the UCH37 aptamers efficiently facilitated the hydrolysis of peptide-based reporter substrates of proteasomes. Thus, the UCH37 aptamers might offer a possible strategy for removing toxic cellular proteins through enhancing proteasome activity.