The NS2 protein generated by the parvovirus minute virus of mice is degraded by the proteasome in a manner independent of ubiquitin chain elongation or activation.

The NS2 protein generated by the parvovirus minute virus of mice is very labile, having a half-life during infection of approximately 90 min. The degradation of NS2 is blocked by proteasome inhibitors but is likely ubiquitin independent: NS2 does not form detectable higher molecular weight ubiquitin-containing conjugates, and NS2 degradation requires neither ubiquitin chain elongation nor intracellular ubiquitin activation. We have also identified a region in the carboxyl half of NS2 that is required for its proteasome-mediated degradation. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.