Fbxw8 is essential for Cul1-Cul7 complex formation and for placental development

Cullin-based ubiquitin ligases (E3s) constitute one of the largest E3 families. Fbxw8 (also known as Fbw6 or Fbx29) is an F-box protein that is assembled with Cul7 in an SCF-like E3 complex. Here we show that Cul7 forms a heterodimeric complex with Cul1 in a manner dependent on FbxwS. We generated mice deficient in Fbxw8 and found that Cul7 did not associate with Cul1 in cells of these mice. Two-thirds of Fbxw8^-/- embryos die in utero, whereas the remaining one-third are born alive and grow to adulthood. Fbxw8 ^-/- embryos show intrauterine growth retardation and abnormal development of the placenta, characterized by both a reduced thickness of the spongiotrophoblast layer and abnormal vessel structure in the labyrinth layer. Although the placental phenotype of Fbxw8^-/- mice resembles that of Cul7^-/- mice, other abnormalities of Cul7^-/- mice are not apparent in Fbxw8^-/- mice. These results suggest that the Cul7-based SCF-like E3 complex has both Fbxw8-dependent and Fbxw8-independent functions.