Structural basis of VCP-VCPIP1-p47 ternary complex in Golgi maintenance

VCP/p97 regulates a wide range of cellular processes, including post-mitotic Golgi reassembly. In this context, VCP is assisted by p47, an adapter protein, and VCPIP1, a deubiquitylase (DUB). However, how they organize into a functional ternary complex to promote Golgi assembly remains unknown. Here, we use cryo-EM to characterize both VCP-VCPIP1 and VCP-VCPIP1-p47 complexes. We show that VCPIP1 engages VCP through two interfaces: one involving the N-domain of VCP and the UBX domain of VCPIP1, and the other involving the VCP D2 domains and a region of VCPIP1 we refer to as VCPID. The p47 UBX domain competitively binds to the VCP N-domain, while not affecting VCPID binding. We show that VCPID is critical for VCP-mediated enhancement of DUB activity and proper Golgi assembly. The ternary structure along with biochemical and cellular data provides new insights into the complex interplay of VCP with its co-factors.VCPIP1 is a deubiquitylase that binds the essential protein VCP/p97. Here, the authors present cryo-EM structures of VCPIP1 bound to VCP and the VCP-VCPIP1-p47 ternary complex along with biochemical and cellular data highlighting the functional importance of VCPIP1 domains in Golgi maintenance.