The proteolytic active sites of the 26S proteasome are sequestered within the catalytic chamber of its 20S core particle (CP). Access to this chamber is through a narrow channel defined by the seven outer α subunits. In the resting state, the N-termini of neighboring α subunits form a gate blocking access to the channel. The attachment of the activators or regulatory particles rearranges the blocking α subunit N-termini facilitating the entry of substrates. By truncating or mutating each of the participating α N-termini, we report that whereas only a few N-termini are important for maintaining the closed gate, all seven N-termini participate in the open gate. Specifically, the open state is stabilized by a hydrogen bond between an invariant tyrosine (Y) in each subunit with a conserved aspartate (D) in its counterclockwise neighbor. The lone exception is the α1–α2 pair leaving a gap in the ring circumference. The third residue (X) of this YD(X) motif aligns with the open channel. Phenylalanine at this position in the α2 subunit comes in direct contact with the translocating substrate. Consequently, deletion of the α2 N-terminal tail attenuates proteolysis despite the appearance of an open gate state. In summary, the interlacing N-terminal YD(X) motifs regulate both the gating and translocation of the substrate.

The proteasome recently gained an exceptional attention as a novel drug target, therefore its inhibitors became important subjects for rational drug design. A synthetic competitive inhibitor Velcade was lately approved in a fast-track process to treat multiple myeloma and is tested with other types of cancers. The proteasome is a major proteolytic assembly in eukaryotic cells responsible for the degradation of most intracellular proteins, including proteins crucial to cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has been implicated in many diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and stroke. The activity of the proteasome can be blocked for therapeutic purposes with competitive inhibitors like Velcade, which trigger apoptosis in target cells. However, much more versatile outcomes and a true control of the proteasome can be achieved with allosteric regulators. Certain natural proteins and peptides bind to the catalytic core of the proteasome and allosterically induce a wide array of effects ranging from changes in product size to substrate-specific inhibition. Designing small synthetic compounds allosterically interacting with the proteasome represents a novel approach that has enormous potential for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Below we provide a review of current knowledge about proteasomal allosteric ligands.