Abstract

RNF213 is a giant E3 ubiquitin ligase and a major susceptibility factor of Moyamoya disease, a cerebrovascular disorder that can result in stroke or death. In the cell, RNF213 is involved in lipid droplet formation, lipotoxicity, hypoxia, and NF-{kappa}B signaling, but its exact function in these processes is unclear. Structural characterization has revealed the presence of a dynein- like ATPase module and an unprecedented but poorly understood E3 module. Here, we demonstrate that RNF213 E3 activity is dependent on ATP binding, rather than ATP hydrolysis, and is particularly responsive to the ATP/ADP/AMP ratio. Biochemical and activity-based probe analyses identify a non-canonical zinc finger domain as the E3 active site, which utilizes the strictly conserved Cys4462, not involved in zinc coordination, as the reactive nucleophile. The cryo-EM structure of the trapped RNF213:E2[~]Ub intermediate reveals RNF213 C-terminal domain as the E2 docking site, which positions the ubiquitin-loaded E2 proximal to the catalytic zinc finger, facilitating nucleophilic attack of Cys4462 on the E2[~]Ub thioester. Our findings show that RNF213 represents an undescribed type of a transthiolation E3 enzyme and is regulated by adenine nucleotide concentration via its ATPase core, possibly allowing it to react to changing metabolic conditions in the cell.