Molecular insights into NLRP1 Gly/N-degron recognition by CRL2 ZER1

The Gly/N-degron pathway is a branch of the proteasomal degradation pathway that specifically targets proteins initiated with an N-terminal glycine. The E3 ligase substrate adaptors ZYG11B and ZER1 have been identified as being responsible for recognizing the target proteins of the Gly/N-degron pathway. Previously, it has been shown that the Gly/N-degron pathway activates the human NLRP1 inflammasome by degrading the autoinhibitory N-terminal fragment of NLRP1 after cleavage by the enteroviral 3C protease. However, the recognition of the NLRP1 Gly/N-degron is not yet fully understood. Here, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of ZER1 bound to the NLRP1 Gly/N-degron at a resolution of 2.2 Å. The structural information revealed that ZER1 uses its ARM repeats to form a conserved cavity that engages the N-terminal glycine (G1) through hydrogen bonds to Asp556, Asn597 and Glu600. Structural comparisons show a shared recognition mode for Gly/N-degrons despite subtle differences in side-chain interactions. However, ZER1 exhibits weaker affinity for the NLRP1 Gly/N-degron than ZYG11B, likely due to distinct local environments surrounding position 3. This study elucidates the molecular basis of NLRP1 recognition by ZER1 and provides insights into targeting this pathway in inflammatory diseases.