Structural insights into functional modes of proteins involved in ubiquitin family pathways

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:832:547-76. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-474-2_39.

Abstract

The conjugation of ubiquitin and related modifiers to selected proteins represents a general mechanism to alter the function of these protein targets, thereby increasing the complexity of the cellular proteome. Ubiquitylation is catalyzed by a hierarchical enzyme cascade consisting of ubiquitin activating, ubiquitin conjugating, and ubiquitin ligating enzymes, and their combined action results in a diverse topology of ubiquitin-linkages on the modified proteins. Counteracting this machinery are various deubiquitylating enzymes while ubiquitin recognition in all its facets is accomplished by numerous ubiquitin-binding elements. In the following chapter, we attempt to provide an overview on enzymes involved in ubiquitylation as well as the removal of ubiquitin and proteins involved in the recognition and binding of ubiquitin from a structural biologist's perspective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sumoylation / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin / ultrastructure
  • Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination / physiology*
  • Ubiquitins

Substances

  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • Ubiquitins
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes