Function and Variety of Ubiquitin Modifications
Following addition of a single ubiquitin moiety to a protein substrate (monoubiquitination), further ubiquitin molecules can be added to the first, yielding a polyubiquitin chain. In addition, some substrates are modified by addition of ubiquitin molecules to multiple lysine residues in a process termed multiubiquitination. As discussed, ubiquitin possesses a total of 7 lysine residues. Historically the original type of ubiquitin chains identified were those linked via lysine 48. However, more recent work has uncovered a wide variety of linkages involving all possible lysine residues and in addition chains assembled on the N-terminus of a ubiquitin molecule ("linear chains"). Work published in 2007 has demonstrated the formation of branched ubiquitin chains containing multiple linkage types. "Atypical" (non-lysine 48-linked) ubiquitin chains have been discussed in a review by Ikeda & Dikic.
The ubiquitination system functions in a wide variety of cellular processes, including:
- Antigen processing
- Apoptosis
- Biogenesis of organelles
- Cell cycle and division
- DNA transcription and repair
- Differentiation and development
- Immune response and inflammation
- Neural and muscular degeneration
- Morphogenesis of neural networks
- Modulation of cell surface receptors, ion channels and the secretory pathway
- Response to stress and extracellular modulators
- Ribosome biogenesis
- Viral infection
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