Inducible dissociation of SCF(Met30) ubiquitin ligase mediates a rapid transcriptional response to cadmium.

Activity of the Met4 transcription factor is antagonized by the SCF(Met30) ubiquitin ligase by degradation-dependent and degradation-independent mechanisms, in minimal and rich nutrient conditions, respectively. In this study, we show that the heavy metal Cd2+ over-rides both mechanisms to enable rapid Met4-dependent induction of metabolic networks needed for production of the antioxidant and Cd2+-chelating agent glutathione. Cd2+ inhibits SCF(Met30) activity through rapid dissociation of the F-box protein Met30 from the holocomplex. In minimal medium, dissociation of SCF(Met30) complex is sufficient to impair the methionine-induced degradation of Met4. In rich medium, dissociation of the SCF(Met30) complex is accompanied by a deubiquitylation mechanism that rapidly removes inhibitory ubiquitin moieties from Met4. Post-translational control of SCF(Met30) assembly by a physiological stress to allow rapid induction of a protective gene expression program represents a novel mode of regulation in the ubiquitin system.