The Interactive Fly

Zygotically transcribed genes

Protein degradation

Ubiquitin (Ub) is a member of a family of conserved polypeptides that are covalently attached to protein substrates. Multiple rounds of modification create a poly(Ub) chain on the substrate that targets the substrate for degradation by the proteasome. The transfer of free Ub onto a protein substrate is a multistep process. E1 activates free Ub at the expense of ATP. Ub is then transferred to an E2 (or ubiquitin protein-conjugating enzyme). It is believed that each E2 is responsible for ubiquitinating distinct substrates. Although a free E2 enzyme may directly transfer Ub onto a substrate in a purified system, this reaction is promoted by additional proteins referred to as E3s or ubiquitin protein ligases. Some E3s act as intermediary Ub carriers in the transfer of Ub from E2 to substrate. Other E3s act as adapters, tethering E2 to E2's substrates. It turns out that a variety of structurally distinct E3 proteins each serve to regulate the interaction between E2 proteins and various distinct substrates.



Ubiquitin ligases
Proteins that regulate the anaphase promoting complex
Proteins that regulate Tramtrack degradation
Other proteins that regulate protein degradation
Ubiquitin activating enzymes

Ubiquitin conjugating enzymes

date revised: 2 March 2005

Zygotically transcribed genes

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