The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch and Yap1 have antagonistic roles in the regulation of ASPP2 protein stability

• Itch interacts with ASPP2 in vivo.
• Itch promotes ASPP2 ubiquitin-dependent degradation.
• Binding of Itch to ASPP2 is mediated through the WW domain of Itch and the PPXY motif of ASPP2.

ASPP2 is an important tumor suppressor protein promoting p53-dependent and-independent apoptosis. However, it has been unclear how ASPP2 protein is regulated. Here, we identified Itch as the E3 ubiquitin ligase for ASPP2. Itch interacts with ASPP2 and mediates its degradation and ubiquitination in vivo. The PPXY motif of ASPP2 interacts with the WW domains of Itch. Yap1 competes with Itch for binding to ASPP2, and prevents Itch-mediated degradation and ubiquitination of ASPP2. Together, these observations reveal that Itch and Yap1 have antagonistic roles in the regulation of ASPP2 protein stability through competing post-translational regulatory mechanism of ASPP2.