Rab40 GTPases regulate AMBRA1-mediated transcription and cell migration

The Rab40 subfamily are unique small monomeric GTPases that form CRL5-based ubiquitin E3 ligase complex and regulate ubiquitylation of specific target proteins. Recent studies have shown that Rab40s play an important role in regulating cell migration, but the underlying mechanisms of Rab40/CRL5 complex function are still not fully understood. In this study we identified AMBRA1 as a novel binding partner of Rab40 GTPases and showed that this interaction mediates a bi-directional crosstalk between CRL4 and CRL5 E3 ligases. Importantly, we found that Rab40/CRL5 ubiquitylates AMBRA1, which does not result in AMBRA1 degradation, but instead it seems to induce AMBRA1-dependent regulation of gene transcription. The global transcriptional profiles identified by RNA-seq showed that AMBRA1 regulates transcription of genes related to cell adhesion and migration. Additionally, we have shown that AMBRA1-dependent transcription regulation does not require the enzymatic activity of AMBRA1/CRL4, and that Rab40-induced AMBRA1 ubiquitylation leads to dissociation of AMBRA1/CRL4 complex. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel function of Rab40/CRL5 complex as an important regulator for AMBRA1-dependent transcription of genes involved in cell migration.